Prime Minster Abe removes his mask as he steps to the podium for press conference and asks reporters to remove their masks if they ask a question

Even with a lifting of a state of emergency, Abe calls for continued vigilance. "Please do not let your guard down...Wash hands vigorously, always consider the distance between other people and if you are to go out please wear a mask"

Criteria for lifting state of emergency: if less than 0.5 people were infected per 100,000 people.

Abe: “We will have to create a new model in daily life from now on” Refrain from visiting places like nightclubs, karaoke parlors & live music halls. "Any guidelines can not make the risk zero. Even after the lifting of the emergency declaration, the virus does continue to exist”

On testing, Japan is adding capacity for 20k-30k antigen tests and is working on PCR tests that use saliva
rather than sampling from the nose

Research teams at the University of Tokyo, Osaka University and the National Institute for Infectious Diseases are working on vaccine development and Abe said he hoped they would begin clinical trials in July.

Abe: "There is always a threat for the next outbreak... If there is an acceleration of the spread unfortunately we might have to resort to a second declaration of a state of emergency"