Japan plans to extend the COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency for Tokyo and 12 prefectures by three weeks from its scheduled end this weekend to stem the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday.The extension beyond Sunday to March 6 will be finalized Thursday after the government consults with experts. In addition, Kochi in western Japan will become the 36th prefecture to be placed under a quasi-emergency from Saturday to March 6, Kishida told reporters.Requests for an extension have been made by the capital and three of its neighboring …READ FULL ARTICLE
