Asia-Pacific Coronavirus News: Japan extends state of emergency to June 20, Thailand approves China’s Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use

The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries:

TOKYO — The Japanese government extended the state of emergency over COVID-19 in nine prefectures by three weeks to June 20 amid the slow declining pace of infections.

The nine prefectures are Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido, Aichi, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. The emergency state was due to expire on Monday.

Okinawa, the 10th and the newest addition to the state of emergency, is already under restrictions until June 20.

Restrictions such as prohibiting restaurants from serving alcohol or offering karaoke services and requiring them to stop operation by 8:00 p.m. local time will stay in effect beyond the previous end date of May 31.

BANGKOK — Thailand announced that it has approved China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.

The announcement came as the Southeast Asian…