An expert advisory panel to Japan's health ministry has warned that coronavirus infections are rapidly picking up in some regional cities.

The panel on Thursday said infections are spreading from Tokyo to regional areas since the lifting of the state of emergency in late May. They said cases are increasing in regional cities, mainly at nightclubs and restaurants that are not likely to be following prevention guidelines.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say they expect to confirm more than 400 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday.

This would be the first time the daily tally for the capital has exceeded 400.

Japan's top government spokesperson says the coronavirus outbreak is continuing to expand across the country, but the situation does not require the government to declare a state of emergency again.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide told reporters on Friday that the expansion is seen as slower than in March and April, but it remains worrisome. He said recently the spread of infection is picking up speed in some parts of Japan, and the number of serious cases has gradually been on the rise.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has offered his sincere condolences over the death of former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Abe said Lee greatly contributed to promoting friendship between Japan and Taiwan.

More than 60 percent of the volunteers for the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are worried or anxious about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Games.

The organizing committee of the Games conducted a survey this month of volunteers who will be working mainly at event sites.

The coronavirus continues to spread across Japan. About 1,300 cases were reported on Thursday, setting a new daily record. Tokyo also hit another record with 367 newly confirmed infections.

Governor Koike Yuriko is calling on residents to refrain from going out and drinking in groups.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials confirmed a record-high 367 coronavirus infections on Thursday.

To try to stop the virus from spreading the governor is calling on residents to refrain from going out and drinking in groups.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko says she will ask restaurants, bars and karaoke parlors in the capital to shorten their opening hours from next week, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Koike made the announcement at a meeting of the Metropolitan Government's virus-response task force on Thursday. Tokyo registered 367 infections on the day, its highest daily record.

The number of new cases in Tokyo continues to rise with a record-high 367 infections confirmed so far on Thursday.

At a meeting with experts, Tokyo governor Koike Yuriko called on people and businesses to make every effort to prevent infections.

Experts say the situation of coronavirus infections in Tokyo is serious as the virus has spread to all generations and through diverse routes.

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday held a meeting with the infectious disease experts to assess the situation. They agreed to maintain the highest level of alert on the four-tier scale for the capital for the third week in a row.

In US Major League Baseball, Japanese two-way player Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Angels has hit his first homerun of the season.

Ohtani batted cleanup as a designated hitter in a game against the Seattle Mariners at the Angels' home stadium in Anaheim, California, on Wednesday.

Japan's Meteorological Agency has apologized for a false earthquake alert issued for a wide area of eastern Japan on Thursday, blaming it on a technical glitch.

At around 9:38 a.m., the agency issued the alert for a strong earthquake that would hit Tokyo and its surrounding regions of Kanto, Koshin-etsu and Tokai, as well as Fukushima Prefecture, with an expected intensity of 4 to 5-plus on a scale of 0 to 7. It was said to be centered in the Pacific Ocean, south of the Boso Peninsula, near Tokyo.

The number of new coronavirus cases in Tokyo continues to rise with a record-high 367 infections confirmed so far on Thursday.

At a meeting with experts, Tokyo governor Koike Yuriko called on people and businesses to make every effort to prevent infections.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say a record 367 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Thursday.

The figure is the highest daily tally for Tokyo, exceeding the previous record of 366 infections that was reported exactly one week ago on July 23.