Workers, parents feel strain as emergency state over virus extended

Workers in eateries, tourism and other industries hit by the new coronavirus pandemic as well as parents appealed to the government for more financial and other support as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extended the nationwide state of emergency on Monday by over three weeks."Unless (the government) offers sufficient compensation and legally enforces business closures, we are left in limbo. I wonder if our voices are heard at all," said Yoshihiko Kitamura, 40, who has been forced to cut business hours of his Italian restaurant in Susukino, a major entertainment district in Hokkaido.Hokkaido, Tok…READ FULL ARTICLE