Japan to partially lift virus emergency

Japan will end a coronavirus state of emergency early in some regions as the pace of infection slows, reports said yesterday, less than five months before the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics. The emergency measure — currently in force in 10 regions including Tokyo — is looser than the strict lockdowns seen elsewhere in the world, and primarily calls for bars and restaurants to close from 8pm. It is due to end on March 7, but the government will lift the measure tomorrow, just over a week early, in six prefectures.