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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walks wearing a face protective mask during a news conference in Tokyo

Japan PM Abe: to lift state of emergency for all of Japan today

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that the state of emergency will be lifted for all of Japan, and that the country managed to get the spread of the virus under control in under two months.

Social distancing curbs were loosened for most of the country on May 14 as new infections fell, but the government has kept Tokyo and four other prefectures under watch.

The world's third-largest economy has escaped an explosive outbreak with more than 16,600 infections and 839 deaths so far, according to NHK public broadcaster.