Japan's governors urged the central government on Friday to consider imposing a lockdown to better contain a spike in COVID-19 cases, calling the current measures "ineffective" in fighting the highly contagious delta variant rapidly spreading across the country.

The call by the National Governors' Association during their online meeting came after a COVID-19 state of emergency took effect in seven more prefectures the same day, with restrictions on business activity aimed at curbing Japan's largest-yet wave of infections.

The governors echoed calls by some people in the country seeking more drastic measures such as the lockdowns that have been imposed in some other countries. But Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has expressed doubt over the effectiveness of those steps.