岸田首相、１７日にも記者会見　１カ月半ぶり

　岸田文雄首相が１７日にも記者会見する方向で調整していることが分かった。首相周辺が１５日、明らかにした。新型コロナウイルス対策をめぐり２０日に期限を迎える大阪府などのまん延防止等重点措置の延長方針や、緩和する水際対策の具体策などについて説明する見通し。（2022/02/15-22:12）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to hold a press conference on Thursday at the earliest, according to sources close to the prime minister.
   He is expected to explain about the government's plan to extend its COVID-19 pre-emergency designations for Osaka and some other prefectures where the designations are currently set to expire on Sunday, and also about the planned easing of the Japan's border control measures against the pandemic, the sources said Tuesday.
   While Kishida has been answering to questions from reporters in doorstep interviews, he has not held an official press conference since he last did so on Jan. 4. Doubts have been raised on the prime minister's accountability amid the ongoing sixth COVID-19 wave in the country.