Tokyo, May 5 (TIWN) The Japanese government on Monday officially announced its decision to extend the nationwide state of emergency imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by nearly a month until May 31.

The government's coronavirus task force made the decision on Monday.  The minister in charge of the response to the pandemic says the daily number of new infections is on a downward trend, but has not yet reached the target level. He says Japan's medical system remains under strain.  Tokyo, Osaka and 11 other prefectures will remain under the same level of alert to prevent infections from spreading.