NHK gave top coverage to a report that the MHLW approved on Tuesday an antigen test for COVID-19, saying that it is expected to help boost the total number of diagnostic tests because it is faster and simpler than PCR testing. NTV led with a report that Tokyo confirmed 28 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, quoting an expert as saying, however, that the figure is still not low enough to feel safe. TBS gave top play to a report that the governor of Osaka announced yesterday that Osaka will introduce a coronavirus tracking system by the end of this month. Fuji TV led with a report that the National Governors’ Association expressed concern about people traveling across prefectural borders if the state of emergency is partially lifted tomorrow. TV Asahi also reported on the anticipated lifting of the state of emergency tomorrow.

Top stories in national dailies included a GOJ plan to lift its state of emergency declaration in 39 prefectures (Nikkei), a decline in the number of deaths from the new coronavirus in seven prefectures (Sankei), survey results showing that 90% of public junior, middle, and high schools in Japan are planning to shorten their summer breaks (Asahi), and Toyota’s forecast of an 80% drop in operating profit for FY2020 (Yomiuri), and the Justice Ministry’s failure to keep minutes of discussions on changing the prosecutors’ law (Mainichi).