Japan’s PM Suga says coronavirus situation improving, optimistic about lifting state of emergency
- Outgoing PM Yoshihide Suga said the Covid-19 task force will formalise a decision on Tuesday, as cases continue to drop
- Elsewhere, Australia’s Scott Morrison said states must not keep borders closed after reaching vaccination targets, and Indonesia’s vaccination drive falters
“The situation has certainly taken a turn for the better,” Suga told reporters in Washington a day after attending the first in-person meeting of the leaders of Japan, the US, Australia and India.
Citing the fact that the number of new cases in Japan had dropped to about 3,000 a day from about 25,000 at one point, he said: “I would like to decide [whether to lift the emergency] after hearing expert opinion.”
Suga, who returned to Japan on Sunday, is expected to make his decision after discussing the matter with relevant ministers on Monday, and the decision will be formalised at a meeting of a government task force on the coronavirus response on Tuesday.
The declining trend of infections in the country was also seen on Sunday as the Tokyo metropolitan government reported 299 new cases in the capital, with the seven-day rolling average falling to 362.7 per day, more than halved from 815.3 logged a week ago.
The number of those hospitalised with severe symptoms decreased by two from Saturday to 129, according to the metropolitan government.