Coronavirus cases in Japan spiked on Sunday, leading to a state of emergency in some regions set to be declared by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday. One-hundred forty-three new coronavirus cases in Tokyo were confirmed on Apr. 5, bringing the total in Japan to 4,563. The state of emergency, made possible by a recently amended law, empowers local authorities to instruct the public to stay at home and request the closure of schools and other facilities.
Racing in Japan, which has continued behind closed doors for several weeks, is still allowed to continue, but the sport's fate now depends on the local governors' discretion. The first Classic of the season, the G1 Oka Sho for 3-year-old fillies, is slated for Apr. 12.
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