TOKYO – Japan will end the novel coronavirus state of emergency for Tokyo and 18 other prefectures, as well as the pre-emergency measures in other areas, on Thursday as scheduled.
This will be the first time since April 4 that the country will be completely free of any emergency measures.
“On September 30, we will lift all priority measures such as the declaration of emergency and prevention of spread, and gradually relax restrictions on eating and drinking,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said.
Bars and restaurants will continue to see requests for shortened business hours for another month. However, they will be able to serve alcoholic beverages until 9 p.m. - Florenda Corpuz
(People wearing face masks walk through a street in the capital's Harajuku on Aug. 29. Photo by Din Eugenio)
