Japan’s Abe extends state of emergency to May 31

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe has decided to extend the country’s national state of emergency to May 31. The restrictions, put into place on 7 April, were due to end on Wednesday. However, Abe has reportedly decided to extend them on the advice of experts who warned that a second wave of infections could put intolerable pressure on hospitals. Japan has reported 14,877 cases with 487 deaths.