Japanese PM Shinzo Abe issues state of emergency for whole country

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a state of emergency Thursday for all of Japan.

Abe saidthe measure takes effect Friday and lasts until May 6, the end of Japan's "golden week" holidays.

He saidthe countrywide state of emergency is aimed at stopping cross-border movement of people and achievingas much as 80 per centof social distancing "to overcome this national crisis in an all-out national effort."

Abe's previous declaration on April 7 only covered Tokyo and six other prefectures deemed at highest riskof infection with the coronavirus. He initially issued a stay home request only to the people in those areas, although he later expanded the measure to the rest of the country.

Abe also announced 100,000-yen ($1,308 Cdn) cash handouts to all 120 million Japanese citizens.

Japan has more than 9,000 virus cases and about 150 deaths.

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