Toshiyuki Matsumoto/Kyodo News via AP
By: The Associated Press & Scripps National
Posted at 2:27 AM, May 28, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-28 07:10:04-04
Japan is set to extend a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas where infections not yet slowing to levels where it can safely host the Olympics, which are slated to begin in July.
A government minister says the extension is needed because people are increasingly roaming around in public, when they should be doing the opposite. They say lifting the emergency might cause infections to spike.
Hospitals in some areas are still overflowing with COVID-19 patients and serious cases hit new highs recently.