(From L) Saitama Gov. Motohiro Ono, Chiba Gov. Kensaku Morita, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's minister in charge of coronavirus response, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa meet the press after their meeting in Tokyo on Jan. 2, 2021. The governors asked the central government to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

TOKYO - The government will consider whether to declare another state of emergency over the novel coronavirus, a minister said Saturday, following a request from the governors of Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures where a resurgence of infections has strained the medical system.