Japan to lift state of emergency in Tokyo area on Sunday

More availability of hospital beds allows government to ease COVID measures

20210317 commuters in Tokyo MAIN2 revised

The government will lift the state of emergency in the Tokyo region on March 21. (Photo by Taro Yokosawa)

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will lift the state of emergency in the capital region on Sunday, as the pressure on hospitals in Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures eases and more beds become available.

"I will propose to the advisory council tomorrow to lift the state of emergency," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Wednesday. Suga added that hospital bed availability has improved after the state of emergency was declared in January.

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