EXPLAINER: What Olympic host Japan’s COVID ‘emergency’ means

A woman wearing a face mask to curb the spread of the coronavirus walks with a parasol on a street in Tokyo Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Japan is playing host to the Tokyo Olympics. But the capital, as well as other populous areas, are in the middle of a government-declared “state of emergency” to curb surging COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya)

FILE - In this July 16, 2021, file photo, people crowd the street in the Kabukicho area, Tokyo's entertainment district. Japan is now in its fourth state of emergency. Restaurants and bars are asked to close early and can’t serve alcohol. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Volunteers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus hold a social distancing sign as they gather in-line to watch the final round of the men's golf event at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Kawagoe, Japan. Japan is playing host to the Tokyo Olympics. But the capital, as well as other populous areas, are in the middle of a government-declared "state of emergency" to curb surging COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People wearing face masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus walk on a street in Tokyo Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Japan is playing host to the Tokyo Olympics. But the capital, as well as other populous areas, are in the middle of a government-declared “state of emergency” to curb surging COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya)