Japan has ended the state of emergency in six prefectures but the ‘Go To Travel’ subsidised tourism campaign will remain suspended.
The domestic travel campaign had been blamed for helping to spread the virus from hotspot Tokyo to other parts of the country which led to the state of emergency in many regions.
‘Go To Travel’ was suspended just before the New Year holiday.
Sic prefectures – Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Aichi, Gifu and Fukuoka – are removed from the state of emergency as of today.
Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures will be removed a week later.
"Even after the removal in the six prefectures, we will continue to respond with vigilance," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said.
"It is still necessary to analyse the infection situation in each region. The Go To Travel campaign cannot be restarted immediately on 8 March," a government official said, as reported by The Mainichi.
Covid infections have been falling considerably since mid-January.
Japan has recorded more than 400,000 Covid cases and 7,720 deaths so far.
