Japan likely to completely lift coronavirus state of emergency on Monday www.japantimes.co.jp

The likelihood of the Japanese government lifting a state of emergency in Tokyo and nearby prefectures, as well as Hokkaido, altogether next Monday is growing, as the number of new coronavirus cases continues to decline, officials have said.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported three new cases in the capital on Friday, the lowest since Abe first declared a monthlong state of emergency for urban areas on April 7.
The number of new COVID-19 infections in Tokyo began increasing rapidly in late March and peaked in mid-April.
Yuriko Koike laid out a three-step plan to ease virus restrictions in the event the emergency is lifted in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures.
Museums, schools and sports facilities without spectator stands are among facilities that can reopen in the first step.