Japan's government has proposed states of emergency through August 31 in three prefectures near Olympic host city Tokyo and the western prefecture of Osaka, a cabinet minister said, as Covid-19 cases spike to records around the country.

Existing states of emergency for Tokyo and southern Okinawa island should be extended to August 31, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is spearheading Japan's pandemic response, told a panel of experts.

The experts are expected to sign off on the proposal and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to announce it formally later on Friday, according to Reuters.