The Japanese government is seeking to extend a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May, in an effort to curb a surge in coronavirus cases with fewer than three months before the start of the Tokyo Olympics.

Japan had hoped a “short and powerful” state of emergency would contain a fourth wave of infections, but Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said new cases in Tokyo and Osaka are still at a high level.

Extending the state of emergency to May 31 leaves a margin of less than two months before the Games, which are due to start on July 23 after being postponed by a year over the pandemic, according to Reuters.

“Osaka particularly is in quite a dangerous situation,” Nishimura said at the start of a meeting with a panel of experts.