TOKYO — The Japanese government is preparing to pause its domestic travel campaign in two cities following sharp rises in COVID-19 cases, the minister handling the government's coronavirus response said on Tuesday.

Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said he hoped a final decision on the temporary exclusion of western Osaka city as well as Sapporo in northern Japan could be made later in the day.

"Infections are spreading and medical care is becoming tense, so I think it's good to act as soon as possible," Nishimura told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

• Japan's daily coronavirus cases top 2,000 for 5th straight day
• Japan is seeing an increase in the number of coronavirus cases per day

Nishimura said the exclusion would initially be for three weeks, during which there would be a halt of new reservations under the program.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Saturday the government would suspend new reservations under the Go To Travel program for trips to hard-hit areas as new coronavirus cases have continued to rise nationally.

Suga has been attempting a balancing act of revitalizing the hard-hit economy while keeping the spread of the coronavirus under control.

Osaka city reported 171 new cases on Monday after seeing a record 286 cases the previous day, a city official told Reuters.

• Japan on 'maximum alert' after record virus cases: PM

Sapporo's daily infection rate stood at 140 cases on Monday, below a record 197 cases reported on Thursday last week, a city official said.

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