The Japanese government declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and other prefectures which will last for one month.

It spans Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka and will be in effect until May 6.

There is still concern over the rate of infections with the metro Tokyo area still the hotspot.

Tokyo has a quarter of all confirmed infections with about 1,200.

The state of emergency took effect as the country announced the largest one-day increase yet in confirmed cases at more than 500.

“If all of us help to reduce person-to-person contact by at least 70%, and preferably 80%, the infections will peak and start to decline in two weeks,” Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said.

Abe has given the respective prefecture governors additional powers to restrict movement and ensure social distancing.

Abe once again called on people to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel.

However public transport systems will continue to operate.

Abe said the government will appriove a proposed $1 trillion financial aid package, which will help hard-hit aviation, hospitality and travel businesses which have been heavily impacted by the suspension of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“We assume that a vaccine for the virus will be available between the end of this year and the beginning of next year at the earliest. That could end this pandemic,” Abe said.