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TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 31: Japan will extend the state of emergency applied in 11 states to curb rising coronavirus infections.According to a report by Kyodo News Agency on Saturday (Jan. 30), the country began arrangements to extend the state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic for up to another month in Tokyo and other areas.The report said “The final decision on whether to extend the current virus emergency covering 11 of Japan's 47 prefectures beyond the original end date of Feb. 7 will be made next week, but a source close to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said an extension would be inevitable for eight of the 11 prefectures.”The agency also said “The government will consider lifting the emergency in Tochigi Prefecture, north of the capital, as it has seen a sufficient drop in new infections.”On January 13, Japan expanded the state of emergency to another seven provinces amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases.Greater Tokyo was already under a state of emergency for a month from Jan. 7 and covered Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba prefectures.Bars and restaurants were ordered to shorten working hours, while people asked to refrain from making unnecessary trips outdoors. Firms are encouraged to have employees work from home.Experts indicated that the recent cases came from dining establishments, and with that input, we requested them to shorten business hours, the official added.A total of 11 prefectures covering more than half of the country's population have been under the new measures. The seven others are Osaka, Aichi, Tochigi, Gifu, Hyogo, Kyoto, and Fukuoka.The number of COVID--19 cases in the country rose to 388,15, as the number of deaths due climbed 5,701. (Footage by Ahmet Furkan Mercan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)