With Osaka Prefecture still reporting record high numbers of COVID-19 cases two weeks after it imposed stricter measures, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura announced Monday that he will ask the central government to impose a fresh state of emergency.
“I’ve decided it's necessary to request that the government declare a state of emergency for our prefecture in order to stop the movement of large groups of people. Stronger measures that request that theme parks, department stores and large shopping centers close are needed,” Yoshimura told reporters Monday morning.
The formal request is expected to come Tuesday, following a meeting of the prefectural task force dealing with the virus.