Japan approves new restrictions for areas hard-hit by Covid

People wearing face masks cross a street in Hiroshima (AP)

Japan has approved new restrictions to curb a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the three most affected south-western regions of Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima.

Daishiro Yamagiwa, the minister in charge of Covid-19 responses, said at a government panel meeting: “Given the sudden surge in infections, the medical system runs the risk of suffering a heavy burden in the near future.”