TOKYO – The Japanese government’s quasi-emergency measures for 13 prefectures including Tokyo over the novel coronavirus have been extended until March 6 amid a continuous surge in new cases driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

MANILA – Japan will contribute grant assistance to strengthen the novel coronavirus vaccine cold chain equipment and logistics in the Philippines through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to get boosted once they receive their vaccination voucher, as Japan battles the sixth wave of the pandemic, driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant.

TOKYO – After placing 16 prefectures under COVID-19 pre-emergency measures, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to expand the declaration to 18 more areas in an effort to stop the rapid spread of infections driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.