Japan declares nationwide state of emergency until May 6 amid COVID-19 outbreak

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declares a nationwide state of emergency through May 6, expanding from the current area of 7 urban prefectures.

The decision comes after a rapid spike of infections outside of cities & to reduce travel during Golden Week holiday period.

The government had been considering expanding of the state of emergency, currently covering Tokyo, Osaka and five prefectures, to also include Kyoto, Aichi and Hokkaido. But instead it will likely be extended nationwide due to a rise in infections in other parts of Japan.

The declaration, based on a revised law enacted last month, has given the governors of the seven prefectures the power to call for schools and some businesses to close until the Golden Week holidays end on May 6.

More than 9,000 people have tested positive across the country.

The number does not include 712 cases linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship which was quarantined in Yokohama in February. More than 190 people have died in Japan, including 13 from the ship.

More than a quarter of all the confirmed infections in Japan have been reported in Tokyo. Officials announced 149 new cases in the capital on Thursday.