Japan's government will declare a coronavirus state of emergency in the greater Tokyo area on Thursday, as media said the capital would again report a record daily number of infections, AFP reported.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to officially announce the measures late on Thursday, but the minister in charge of Japan's pandemic response outlined the expected shape of the declaration, warning that Tokyo's medical system was “stretched thin”.

The new month-long restrictions will be far less strict than the harsh lockdowns seen in other parts of the world, and softer than even Japan's first state of emergency last spring. They will primarily target restaurants and bars, which are being asked to stop serving alcohol by 7pm and close an hour later, with residents also requested to avoid non-essential outings after 8pm.

Businesses in Tokyo and three surrounding areas that petitioned the government to make the move will be urged to maximise teleworking, with the goal of reducing commuter traffic by 70 per cent.