Japan's third most populated region has asked the central government to impose a state of emergency over the coronavirus as infections rise just three months before the country hosts the Olympics.

Osaka prefecture only lifted a state of emergency two months ago and restrictions are expected to be tougher this time, possibly involving store and shopping mall closures, according to AFP.

“Osaka is in a very tough situation in terms of the number of cases and the situation of the medical system,” Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters, adding that current measures were “not enough”.

“Considering that, I decided to request that the central government declare a state of emergency,” he said.