Japan is ready to reintroduce a state of emergency in Tokyo and Osaka three months before the Summer Olympics are set to commence.
Both cities have requested the declaration from the central government to ramp up restrictions as the number of positive cases continues to rise.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the Olympics would, nevertheless, proceed. "There will be no impact on the Olympics. The government will do its best to host the Games in safety," Suga said.
Tokyo officials said Wednesday they intended to have the emergency imposed for a third time. Osaka submitted the same request after the UK variant of the virus emerged throughout the city. Tokyo's daily coronavirus case count has jumped by more than 70% over the past two weeks.
"We should not fall behind the speed at which variants of the virus are spreading infection," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said.
Prime Minister Suga intends to grant the requests. Suga hasn't made a formal announcement but said he a decision would be forthcoming soon. The Sankei newspaper said Suga's statement may come as soon as this week.
Tokyo wants the state of emergency from April 29 to May 9 - coinciding with the Golden Week public holidays. It will expand current pandemic restrictions including the closing of department stores and other retailers. Local news quoted an unidentified politician saying entertainment venues might be forced to temporarily close.
A recent survey showed another emergency declaration was supported by most people. However, some businesses are concerned about tighter restrictions because of the delay they will cause in economic recovery.
Japan began its national vaccination program this month and has administered more than 2 million doses to front-line workers and those aged 65 and older. The leader of the vaccine program, Taro Kano, said the government hoped to finish the program by February 2022.
