Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday expanded a state of emergency due to the coronavirus to cover the whole country to stem the growing spread of the disease.
The declaration allows regional governors to urge people to stay indoors, but with no punitive measures or legal force, the measure is far weaker than strict lockdowns seen in other parts of the world.
“Areas where a state of emergency should be carried out will be expanded from the seven prefectures to all prefectures,” Abe told a special meeting of medical experts called to discuss the disease.
He said the state of emergency would remain in force until May 6.