Japan adds Okinawa to COVID-19 state of emergency, eyes extension

The Japanese government decided Friday to add Okinawa to areas under a COVID-19 state of emergency as infections in the southern island prefecture surge, while calls grew for tougher restrictions in Tokyo and other areas to remain in place beyond the May 31 deadline.Measures including a ban on restaurants serving alcohol will be in place in Okinawa from Sunday to June 20, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a task force meeting.Okinawa's addition brings the number of prefectures under the state of emergency to 10. The others, including Tokyo and Osaka, are slated to shed the designation a…READ FULL ARTICLE