Japan eases coronavirus restrictions ahead of Tokyo Olympics

People walk by posters to promote the Olympic Games planned to start in the summer in Tokyo (Koji Sasahara/AP)

Japan has announced the easing of a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and six other areas from next week, with new daily cases falling just as the country begins final preparations for the Olympics starting in just over a month.

Japan has been struggling since late March to slow a wave of infections propelled by more contagious variants, with new daily cases soaring above 7,000 at one point and seriously ill patients straining hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka and other metropolitan areas.