Karaoke warning in Tokyo amid calls for Covid-19 state of emergency in Japan

Capital’s population told to avoid bars and restaurants for two weeks as coronavirus cases rise

Weeks after urging them to forgo cherry blossom parties, the governor of Tokyo has told residents to ditch another national pastime – karaoke – as calls grow for Japan to take tougher measures to stem a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.

Yuriko Koike said Tokyo’s 14 million people should avoid visits to bars and restaurants, and put karaoke sessions on hold until 12 April, while a senior medical official called on the government to declare a state of emergency before it is “too late”.

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