Tokyo metropolitan government officials plan to ask bars and restaurants to continue operating for shorter hours in April.

The coronavirus state of emergency covering the Tokyo area ended on Sunday. But newly confirmed cases are on the rise. The seven-day average surpassed the previous week's average on Monday.

The Tokyo government is asking pubs, restaurants, and karaoke bars to shut down by 9:00 p.m. every day until the end of this month, in order to prevent a surge in cases.

Officials are now planning to ask the establishments to continue closing early next month as well.

One idea is to request that the businesses maintain shorter hours until around April 21. That would be one month after the state of emergency was lifted.

The metropolitan government will likely continue to provide 40,000 yen, or about 380 dollars, per day to establishments that comply with its request.