Tokyo governor says will ask gov't for emergency measures to stem COVID-19 rise

Pedestrians wearing protective face masks, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, are seen in front of the Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo April 7, 2021. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday she would request the central government impose emergency measures to stem a surge of COVID-19 infections in the capital region.

Koike made the comments after a meeting with medical experts who warned of an explosive surge in cases that could exceed the third and most deadly wave of the pandemic so far. Experts also warned of a rise in more infectious mutant strains of the virus.

FILE PHOTO: The Olympic torch is seen at Hibarigahara Festival Site, during the last leg of the first day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay, in Minamisoma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, March 25, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

The western prefectures of Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi started on Monday a month of targeted lockdown measures, to rein in a more virulent strain of the virus.

Tokyo's cases are on an uptrend as well, with Wednesday's 555 new infections standing at the highest since early February.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Sunday that the measures, which allow regional governments to order restaurants to close early and levy fines for noncompliance, would be expanded as necessary.

(Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Michael Perry)