Japan was poised to lift its nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus today, gradually reopening the world's third biggest economy after new cases slowed to a crawl, AFP reported.

Compared to hard-hit areas in Europe, the United States, Russia and Brazil, Japan has been spared the worst of the pandemic, with 16,581 cases in total and 830 deaths.

Yet with infections threatening to run out of control, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had declared an initial state of emergency for Tokyo and six other regions on April 7 — later expanding it to cover the entire country.

Businesses and schools were urged to shut and people were requested to remain home but Japan's “lockdown” was far softer than in other parts of the world and there was no punishment for anyone flouting the rules.