Japan preparing to expand state of emergency to Osaka, Kyoto - media
The three prefectures on Saturday asked the government for expansion of the state of emergency, already in place for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures, to include their region in an effort to contain the latest Covid-19 outbreak

A woman in personal protective equipment (PPE) walks on the street, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, at Ginza shopping district in Tokyo, Japan December 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
The Japanese government has started preparations to expand a state of emergency to the western Japanese prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo, Jiji news agency reported on Monday.
The three prefectures on Saturday asked the government for expansion of the state of emergency, already in place for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures, to include their region in an effort to contain the latest Covid-19 outbreak.