Tokyo's jump in COVID-19 cases comes as Abe's government prepares to launch a campaign to promote domestic tourism, but that has raised concern about spreading the virus outside the capital.
Koike said it was important both to contain the virus and revive the slumping economy.
"At present, a tough situation continues but ... by taking a proper response in Tokyo, I want to advance both the prevention of infections and social and economic activity," she said.
Tokyo accounts for about 20% of Japan's economy.
Koike, who clashed with Abe's administration over the timing of a state of emergency, and over which businesses to target for shutdowns, said she wanted greater clarity on local governments' authority during the crisis.
A veteran member of parliament before defying Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to make her 2016 bid for governor, Koike also wants to make the metropolis a global financial centre by luring foreign talent.
Still, speculation persists that she could yet aim for Japan's top job.
She has already broken several glass ceilings: first female governor of Tokyo, Japan's first female defence minister and the first woman to run for LDP president.
But creating a new political machine to vault her to the top would be tough, political analysts said.
"Does she have what it takes to be prime minister? Absolutely. But she doesn't have the political machine that can make it happen," said a source who has advised Koike for years.
A return to the LDP fold would also face obstacles, given that mutual antagonism runs deep.
