Japan to expand virus emergency areas as cases rise

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk across an intersection (AP)

Japan is set to expand its coronavirus state of emergency for a second week in a row, adding several more prefectures as a surge in infections fuelled by the Delta variant strains the country’s health system.

The government last week extended the state of emergency until September 12 and expanded the areas covered to 13 prefectures from six, including Tokyo.