Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gestures during a news conference at the prime minister鈥檚 official residence in Tokyo, Friday, April 17, 2020. Abe expanded Thursday the state of emergency to step up measures ahead of a major holiday week coming up in early May so that people won鈥檛 travel around and possibly spread the virus. The ongoing state of emergency runs through May 6. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP)
TOKYO 鈥� Japan鈥檚 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said more social distancing is still needed after he declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and other urban areas 10 days ago.
Abe expanded the monthlong state of emergency to all of Japan on Thursday in a bid to reduce movement of people ahead of 鈥済olden week鈥� holidays. Abe said Tokyo set a record of 201 daily increase of cases for a total of almost 3,000, calling the situation 鈥渟evere.鈥�
He said social interactions were reduced by 60% in downtown Tokyo and 70% in Osaka but fell short of an 80% target needed to slow the spread to a manageable level.
Japan has about 9,900 cases and 160 deaths.