Osaka and its surrounding prefectures have asked Japan to expand a state of emergency to the western cities in an effort to contain the latest Covid-19 outbreak, while Tokyo's new daily infections keep above 2,000 cases.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, the country's economy minister, told media the situation in the western cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo was severe and the declaration of a wider state of emergency was being considered after a request from the cities' governors.
Tokyo reported 2,268 new daily coronavirus cases, according to the public broadcaster NHK, the third straight day above 2,000.
