Japan extends COVID-19 emergency again, sets exit strategy for curbs

Japan's government decided Thursday to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency again for Tokyo and many other areas where hospitals remain stretched, while adopting a plan to ease restrictions on traveling and large events once most of the population has been vaccinated.The state of emergency covering 21 of Japan's 47 prefectures had been slated to end Sunday but will remain in place through Sept. 30 in 19 prefectures including Hokkaido, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka.Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said COVID-19 cases were down nationwide but there continued to be a large number of patients with se…READ FULL ARTICLE