Japan widens COVID quasi-emergency to 34 prefs. amid record new cases

Japan on Tuesday expanded a COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency to 34 of the nation's 47 prefectures with the addition of 18 more areas, as the country continues to battle record coronavirus infections amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.Effective from Thursday to Feb. 20, the quasi-emergency is intended to reduce the strain on the health care system and prevent a shortage of essential workers that could result from a surge in infections and close contacts.Japan reported 62,610 new infections Tuesday, topping 60,000 for the first time as the highly transmissible Omicron variant has d…READ FULL ARTICLE