Feb 17 (NHK) - Japan's top government spokesperson says 12 prefectures have asked the government to extend the coronavirus quasi-emergency declaration.
Quasi-emergency measures are currently in place in 36 prefectures. They're set to expire in 21 of these areas at the end of Sunday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said on Wednesday that the government has so far received requests for the extension from 12 of the prefectures.
The 12 are Hokkaido, Aomori, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Nagano, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Fukuoka and Kagoshima.
Matsuno also said Yamaguchi Prefecture asked that the declaration be lifted for it.
The government plans to maintain quasi-emergency restrictions mainly in urban areas and intends to end them in Okinawa and other prefectures where the infection situation is improving.
In making a decision, the government will analyze factors such as changes in the number of infections in each area and the occupancy rate of hospital beds set aside for COVID-19 patients.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is expected to announce the government's response on Thursday after holding talks with relevant Cabinet ministers.
