Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan will again extend their closure and reopen later than mid-May to curb the spread of the new coronavirus in line with the government's request, the operators of the theme parks said Thursday.

Oriental Land Co., which runs Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, said on March 27, 12 days after they were originally hoping to reopen, that they would reopen April 20 or later.

Meanwhile, USJ LLC, the operator of the amusement park in Osaka, was previously planning to reopen next Sunday. All three parks have been closed since Feb. 29.

The extension of closure came after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared Tuesday a state of emergency through May 6, covering Chiba and Osaka prefectures, where the parks are located, as well as five other prefectures.

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The declaration enables local authorities to instruct people to stay at home and companies to close large facilities.

Oriental Land will also extend the closure of its four group hotels, which are inside or near the parks, such as the Disney Ambassador Hotel.

The opening date of Tokyo Disneyland's newly developed area will be decided after the parks reopen, the company said.