Jun 11 ,2020. 2 hours ago – 16:36 KYODO NEWS

The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to lift its warning about a possible increase in the number of coronavirus infections in the capital, sources familiar with the plan said Thursday.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike will present her views about the “Tokyo alert,” which she issued June 2, at a metropolitan government meeting later Thursday following consultations with infectious disease experts.

As a recent small rise in the number of new cases has stabilized, the Tokyo government is planning to move to the next phase of easing business restrictions, such as allowing karaoke boxes, arcade centers and pachinko parlors to reopen, as well as restaurants and pubs to operate longer hours.

Tokyo, with a population of about 14 million, laid out a three-step plan to ease virus restrictions, with museums, schools and sports facilities without spectator stands reopened in the first phase, following the lifting in late May of a state of emergency.

Just a day before the alert was issued, Tokyo moved to the second phase, enabling most facilities such as movie theaters and sports gyms to reopen.

On Thursday, the Tokyo government reported 22 new infections, compared with 18 the previous day. It said the number of new daily cases and unidentified transmission routes has remained stable and remained below some of its numerical conditions for lifting the warning.

CR: KYODO NEWS