Photo/Illutration Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura discusses the infection situation in his prefecture at a news conference on Feb. 28. (Satoshi Okamoto)

With medical services still a concern, the government is preparing to extend COVID-19 pre-emergency measures in Tokyo as well as Osaka, Aichi and seven other prefectures until March 21, according to sources.

It is expected to make an official decision as early as March 4 after confirming the desires of the local governments, the sources said.

The pre-emergency measures are currently in place in 31 prefectures. They are set to expire on March 6.

The central government is considering extending the pre-emergency measures in Tokyo as well as Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, while it plans to lift the restrictions in Saga Prefecture.

The government will decide on Hokkaido and the remaining 19 prefectures under the measures by assessing the local infection situations.

The weekly number of new COVID-19 cases is on the decline from the previous week in Tokyo as well as Aichi and Osaka prefectures.

But the occupancy rate of hospital beds remains high in those areas, straining the health care systems. The rate exceeded 50 percent in Tokyo, 60 percent in Aichi and 70 percent in Osaka.

The central government also plans to extend the pre-emergency measures in seven prefectures where residents frequently travel to and from the three regions for work, shopping and other daily activities.

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