A majority of Japan's 47 prefectures have come under or are moving to seek restrictions on restaurants and bars to cope with surging coronavirus infections, with 12 more prefectures newly seeking quasi-emergency declaration by the central government.

Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Shizuoka and Ibaraki prefectures requested the measure on Friday, and Hokkaido and Fukushima Prefecture officially decided to make the request, after the country saw a new record for daily coronavirus cases for a third straight day, with the figure topping 46,000 on Thursday.

Other prefectures including Fukuoka, Saga and Oita are also preparing to make similar requests.