Coronavirus semi-emergency status in three areas of Japan

People wear face masks as they make their way in Osaka, western Japan (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan has designated Osaka and two other areas for new coronavirus control steps as infections in those areas rise less than four months before the Tokyo Olympics.

Osaka, neighbouring Hyogo and Miyagi in the north have had sharp increases in daily cases since early March, soon after Japan scaled down its partial and non-binding state of emergency that began in January.