Tokyo’s state of emergency has been extended until the end of May in a bid to tackle rising coronavirus infections, according to reports.
The Japanese capital is due to host the Olympic Games in just over two months’ time, with the Paralympic Games to follow.
The Kyodo news agency said that the minister in charge of the country’s Covid-19 response, Yasutoshi Nishimura, had told a meeting the state of emergency in the Tokyo and Osaka regions would be extended until May 31.
The tougher measures would also be expanded to other regions of Japan, Kyodo reported.
Nishimura is reported to have told the meeting that the Japanese government had “a strong sense of crisis”.
Japan’s prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, is due to hold a press conference later on Friday.
The president of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, Seiko Hashimoto, told reporters at a press conference that it would be “very difficult” for her counterpart at the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, to go ahead with a planned visit to Japan in the next few days.
The IOC said no dates had been fixed for Bach’s visit yet.
Last week the Games organisers released an athletes’ playbook – effectively rules they must follow once in Japan.
Athletes are set to be subject to daily tests, asked to wear face coverings during medal ceremonies and quarantine on the day of arrival and the next three days.
The British Olympic Association was handed a boost on Thursday in its bid to vaccinate all its athletes and support staff prior to the start of the Games.
Under a deal struck between the IOC and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, vaccines will be made available to athletes in nations not in a position to prioritise jabs for those heading to the Japanese capital.
Games organisers have already taken the decision to bar overseas spectators from attending. A decision on how many – if any – Japanese fans can attend is due to be taken next month.
The Olympics are scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8, with the Paralympics taking place from August 24 to September 5.
