Faced with a rising number of coronavirus infections, Osaka Prefecture on Wednesday requested that the central government extend quasi-emergency measures currently due to expire Sunday.

“It’s clear there are signs of another spread of infections — the danger of a rebound is extremely high,” Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said, adding that it was critical to maintain current policies to complete vaccinations for those over 65 by the end of the month.

In a letter to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sent Wednesday, Yoshimura noted that the prefecture’s hospital bed occupancy rate and the number of people receiving treatment per 100,000 people had decreased to the central government’s Stage 3 level.