Tokyo, Jan 7 (TIWN) Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday declared a state of emergency in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which also included the Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, authorising tougher measures to fight a recent Covid-19 resurgence.

The declaration covers the capital and the surrounding prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba, Suga said. It will be imposed from Friday until Feb. 7.