Japan extends emergency nationwide ahead of Golden Week

Government wants people to stay at home as coronavirus clusters expand

Tokyo's Shinjuku: Japan's capital is already under an emergency declaration meant to reduce social contact. (Photo by Karina Noka)

Nikkei staff writers

April 16, 2020 16:45 JST

Updated on April 16, 2020 23:03 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday expanded the state of emergency to the entire country as the new coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Japan's upcoming Golden Week holidays in early May could exacerbate the epidemic, so the prime minister decided to declare the state of emergency for all 47 prefectures, up from the seven including Tokyo and Osaka that were designated last week.