Japan has extended the Covid-19 state of emergency currently in effect in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures until the end of the month, the Minister in charge of the government's coronavirus response said on Friday.

The state of emergency, which was set to expire next week, will now also apply to the prefectures of Aichi and Fukuoka due to a surge in COVID-19 cases there, the Japanese Kyodo news agency reported, adding that toughened coronavirus-related restrictions will be introduced in eight other prefectures in view of the critical epidemiological situation.

the Minister in charge of the government's coronavirus response Yasutoshi Nishimura also said that Aichi and Fukuoka will be added to the four prefectures under the emergency measures startingf from May 12..

He told a meeting that a state of emergency being declared in Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures will allow their respective governors and authorities to implement stricter measures in a bid to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

The Asian country's third state of emergency since the outbreak of the pandemic was announced on April 25. It included the closure of facilities serving alcohol, large shopping malls and theme parks.

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