Japan is poised to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other regions in an attempt to stem the march of the coronavirus, EDNews reports citing The Week.

“We hope to declare a state of emergency… after listening to the opinions of the advisory panel,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters.

“We are seeing rapid increases of new infections, particularly in urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka.

“Considering that medical institutions are facing a critical situation, I have received opinions that the government should prepare to declare a state of emergency.”