Prime Minister Abe lifted the emergency order on the majority of the country.

After a month in a state of emergency, Japan has begun efforts to reopen. Today, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe formally lifted the state of emergency on 39 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, about 83% of the country. “While controlling the spread of the virus as much as possible by acting on the premise that the virus is all around us, we will restore ordinary work and daily life,” Abe said at a news conference.

However, while the areas no longer under a state of emergency make up 54% of Japan’s population, its most economically dense areas like Tokyo and Osaka remain under the state, and according to Abe, will continue to be until the coronavirus has been successfully contained in the country. Currently, Japan has reported 16,120 cases of COVID-19, with 697 confirmed deaths. The country has not been hit as hard as other major economies, but they have also been slow to adapt widespread testing. Recently, around 50,000 tests were administered in Tokyo, with 5,000 of those tests coming back positive. Still, confirmed cases are on the decline, which could mean Japan is on the right track to containment.

Non-essential businesses in the areas no longer under the state of emergency are starting to reopen, though there is understandably some trepidation. Ina City, Nagano restaurant owner Kazue Tominari told Reuters that she has not yet opened her business beyond take-out. “It depends on how everyone feels,” she said in a phone interview. “If news comes out about more infections, people will probably go back to self-restraint mode. Until there are effective drugs or vaccines, I don’t think we will be able to go back to the way we were before.”

Prime Minister Abe is currently working on a revised budget for the country, as well as an economic stimulus program to aid businesses affected by the pandemic.