Major Japanese construction contractor Shimizu Corp. said Wednesday it will reopen worksites at projects it had suspended since April due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The company decided to reopen construction sites in 13 prefectures in stages starting Thursday "from a viewpoint of providing job security in the construction industry and maintaining economic activities," Shimizu said in a statement.

Shimizu suspended work in the 13 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, after virus infections rapidly increased and led the government to expand a state of emergency declaration from seven densely populated prefectures to the entire nation on April 16.

As a result, work at over 80 percent of Shimizu's 630 construction sites in the 13 prefectures has been on hold.

The company will ensure that all workers wear masks and have their body temperature checked upon entering worksites.

Other major contractors similarly suspended operations after the nationwide state of emergency was declared.

==Kyodo

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