Some COVID steps may remain after Japan lifts emergency: spokesman

Japan's top government spokesman said Saturday some restrictive measures against the coronavirus could be kept in place even if the COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures is lifted on the June 20 expiration date.The government may scale down the state of emergency to quasi-emergency measures, which also allow local authorities to impose restrictions such as requesting eateries to close early, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on a TV program.His remarks came a day after the government extended the emergency declaration for nine prefectures and quas…READ FULL ARTICLE