Japan has extended a COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo and nine other regions for another three weeks.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that although infection was falling they remained high and that some hospitals were still under strain.
BBC News reports the restriction will be in place until 19 June, five weeks before the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics are due to start.
Organisers said they would wait until the emergency ends on 20 June to decide whether to allow local fans to attend.
Overseas fans have already been barred.
BBC News reports experts said the daily infection rate in Tokyo has to fall below 100 for the city to safely host the Games.
On Thursday, there were almost 700 new infections in the capital.
Suga said hospitals were still overwhelmed in some regions, such as Osaka.
The state of emergency was first put in place on 23 April, for an initial period of two weeks.
This is the second time it has been extended.
Under the restrictions, bars and restaurants have to limit the sale of alcohol and close early.
The measures also cap the number of audience members at events.
[Source: BBC]
