Japan eyes lifting COVID-19 emergency at end of month as scheduled

The Japanese government is leaning toward at least partially lifting the COVID-19 state of emergency covering 19 prefectures including Tokyo at the end of the month, government and ruling party sources said Tuesday.Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is eager to ease restrictions for all the prefectures and expected to announce a final decision at a task force meeting next Tuesday, as he is set to step down as premier within days of the Liberal Democratic Party choosing its new leader on Sept. 29, the sources said.Under the state of emergency, people are urged to avoid going to crowded areas, whi…READ FULL ARTICLE