Tokyo, Jan 26 (TIWN) The Japanese government's advisory panel of virus experts on Tuesday approved a plan to expand Covid-19 quasi-emergency measures to 18 more prefectures with the tougher restrictions coming into effect from Thursday.

The quasi-emergency measures will be in effect until February 20, with 34 of Japan's 47 prefectures subject to more stringent anti-virus measures, reports Xinhua news agency.  Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima prefectures, the first to be placed under the emergency measures, have seen Covid-19 cases threaten to overburden healthcare facilities, said Hitoshi Kikawada, the Cabinet Office's state minister in charge of coronavirus measures.