The Japanese government is considering authorizing quasi-emergency restrictions in Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima to curb the rapid spread of the new coronavirus in these prefectures.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will discuss the option with relevant ministers on Thursday and officially endorse the plan after consulting an advisory panel of experts on Friday at the earliest.

The southernmost prefecture of Okinawa saw the number of coronavirus cases soar above 600 on Wednesday for the first time in about four months.

Okinawa is preparing to ask the government to apply quasi-emergency measures on the prefecture.

Infections have been reported one after another at the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

New infections soaring in the prefecture are mainly centered in Iwakuni City, which hosts the base.

The government is to discuss whether to apply the same measures on Yamaguchi and neighboring Hiroshima Prefecture should they make the request.

When focused anti-infection measures are introduced, governors will be given the authority to request restaurants and drinking places to shorten their business hours. Businesses that comply will be subsidized.

The government will cautiously study whether the restrictions should be applied to other municipalities, including Tokyo, which on Wednesday saw the number of new cases soar nearly fourfold from two days before.

It will take into account how the virus spreads in these areas, and whether the municipalities make such a request.