In surprise move, Japan adds 3 more prefectures to virus state of emergency

TOKYO, (Reuters) - Japan will declare a state of emergency in three more prefectures hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said today, in a surprise move reflecting growing concerns about the virus's spread.

The rising state of emergency declarations come as Japan grapples with a surge of a more infectious strain of COVID-19 just 10 weeks before the Tokyo Olympics are due to start.

Hokkaido, Okayama and Hiroshima will on Sunday join Tokyo, Osaka and four other prefectures under a state of emergency until May 31, said Nishimura, who is also in charge of coronavirus countermeasures.

The government had originally proposed a more targeted "quasi-emergency" declaration for five additional prefectures.

"There were various views expressed at the meeting (with experts)," Nishimura told reporters after the meeting. "Based on those views, we retracted our original proposal and came up with this new one and got approval for it."

Three prefectures will be added to the lesser declaration as planned.

With the latest measures, 19 out of Japan's 47 prefectures covering about 70% of its population would fall under restrictions that include closures of eateries by 8 p.m. and a ban on alcohol at bars and restaurants.

Experts say medical resources are being pushed to the brink, while Japan's vaccination drive has been the slowest among advanced nations with just 3% of the population vaccinated, according to Reuters data.