Japan has declared a nationwide state of emergency due to the country’s deteriorating coronavirus outbreak.
The move encourages state governments to warn residents to stay inside, but without coercive or legal force.
Currently, the state of emergency is expected to stay in place until 6 May.
Previously, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had announced a month-long state of emergency in seven regions.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a special meeting of medical experts:
Areas where a state of emergency should be carried out will be expanded from the seven prefectures to all prefectures.
Criticism of Mr. Abe’s approach has become sharper as the number of infections in Japan increases.
After a recent increase in cases in the capital Tokyo, experts cautioned that under pressure, the urgent medical facilities in the city could collapse. Tokyo authorities have also been encouraging people to work from home.
Since the initial state of emergency came into place on 8 April, several other provincial governors called for the steps to be expanded to their regions, saying cases were increasing and their medical services were overloaded.
The Panthera Post 