Japan Live Updates

• The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Japan has risen to 10,000, NHK public broadcaster has said, just days after a state of emergency was extended to the entire nation in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
• Just over 200 people have died from the virus in Japan, but Tokyo remains the hardest-hit area, reporting 201 new infections on Friday alone – a new record. Tokyo reported 181 new cases on Saturday, NHK reported. 
• Abe will declare a nationwide state of emergency, expanding it from seven areas declared earlier this month, Yomiuri reported on its website. The government had been expected to add only a handful of areas. The state of emergency will last until May 6, Yomiuri said.
• Japan’s cabinet announced on Friday that another official had tested positive for the coronavirus, making him the third case among officials at the cabinet office. The infected cabinet official in his 50s works at the cabinet’s council for science, technology and innovation, but had no close contact with ministers around when he developed symptoms from April 10, an official at the cabinet office said. He was confirmed with the virus on April 16.
• Tokyo found 149 new cases of coronavirus Thursday, broadcaster NTV reported, without attribution.

• On Sunday morning, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe posted a “stay home” video, cuddling his dog, reading a book, sipping from a mug and clicking on a remote. On the left of the split-screen video, a popular singer Gen Hoshino is strumming on a guitar, performing a song advocating social distancing.

• Japan’s prime minister on Monday proposed a state of emergency for several major regions seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, as well as a stimulus package worth $1 trillion to cushion the impact on the world’s third-biggest economy
• Japan has unveiled the second package of measure of worth about $4 billion in spending to cope with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reported. The measures, published Tuesday, focus on support to small and mid-sized firms.
• The package aims to boost growth and stave off corporate bankruptcies as Japan’s economy suffers from a decline in tourism amid the outbreak.
• The Japanese government is supporting private firms’ cashflow and providing wage subsidies to keep people employed. However, there are small- and medium-sized firms going under even now amid the unprecedented plunge in demand. There is also a rising trend to cut non-permanent workers loose; the first ripples of a growing wave of layoffs.
• The Tokyo 2020 Games have also been delayed for a year.