Japan to tighten curbs as COVID cases hit record

Tokyo and 12 other prefectures set to be placed under quasi state of emergency

20220118 Tokyo coronavirus

Commuters walk through a train station in Tokyo on Monday. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Japan is set to elevate COVID-19 alert levels in Tokyo and 12 prefectures, allowing the governors to tighten restrictions on social activities as case numbers hit a daily record.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the additional curbs after meeting with ministers on Tuesday. Japan reported a record of more than 32,000 new infections as the fast-spreading omicron variant becomes more prevalent.

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