The Japanese advisory body will accept COVID restrictions for most countries Economy

Japan reported more than 44,000 new COVID-19 cases on Monday.

A Japanese advisory panel will approve the extension of tougher measures against COVID-19 to 18 more regions on Tuesday, putting more than 70 per cent cuts in the country.

Osaka and western Kyoto prefectures are among the areas where measures are being taken, in response to the rise in infections and hospitalizations caused by the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Japan registered more than 44,000 new cases on Monday, an NHK public channel count showed.

Restrictions will be set from Thursday to February 20, and governors in those regions may ask restaurants and bars to shorten their business hours and stop serving alcohol.

The advisory board is also expected to extend it until February 20, the so-called almost emergency measures in force in all three regions.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government working group will formally approve the decision on Tuesday evening.