There’s some good news for Japan. Virus cases are beginning to fall and it seems like they’re on the fence of easing the state of emergency just in time for the Olympics in a month. Here are the highlights:

• It’s been a struggle for Japan because cases continued to soar since late March for quite some time. 
• Recently, cases have taken a significant downturn, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to downgrade the state of emergency when it expires on Sunday. 
• Even with medical experts showing concern for holding the Olympics there, he still is confident throwing a safe and secure Olympics by July 23.
• Having the Olympics before the fall elections is also risky for Suga because there are still lots of people who are dissatisfied with his virus measures, slow vaccination rollout, and other things.
• Government-appointed experts met and expressed concern that cases may rise again after easing restrictions.
• Suga is expected to make a final decision after more meetings on Thursday. 
• Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, heads the government Covid-19 advisory board. He says infectious diseases have increased in many areas, but it’s bottomed out in Tokyo. He’s worried that the increase will happen after easing things because there are already signs of rebounding in the young population.
• Even with the low vaccination rate, there’s been progress made. However, other government officials and medical people say they don’t want to go backward from the risk of bringing more infection due to the Olympic games.