Japan plans to ship the anti-flu drug Avigan to 43 countries after its holiday period ends next Wednesday. The drug is seen as a potential treatment for people infected with the coronavirus.

Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu said on Friday that nearly 80 countries have requested free supplies of Avigan, which was developed by a Japanese company.

Analysts believe Japan's GDP shrank in the January-March quarter due to the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ten private research institutes project annualized growth rates of between minus 3.5 percent and minus 6.5 percent.

Japan's government plans to unveil a basic idea on how to partially reopen the economy when it announces an extension of the nationwide state of emergency.

The government is due to hold a meeting of its coronavirus task force on Monday and decide to extend the state of emergency for about one month. The measure is set to expire on Wednesday.

Japan's government has begun procedures to fast-track approval of the antiviral drug remdesivir as a possible treatment for coronavirus patients.

The move follows US authorization on Friday for emergency use of the drug to treat COVID-19. Remdesivir was originally developed as a treatment for Ebola.

Japan's state of emergency due to coronavirus outbreak continues to bring an unusual quiet to roads, transportation and tourist spots in the holiday period that began in late April.

On Saturday, the first day of the five-day consecutive holiday, popular destinations in Tokyo are almost deserted as people respond to calls to stay home.

The Japanese government is finalizing the details of its planned extension to the nationwide state of emergency, ahead of a formal decision on Monday.

On Friday, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said his government plans to keep the measure in place for about a month to contain the spread of the coronavirus. It was set to expire on Wednesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says his government plans to make a formal decision on Monday about extending a nationwide state of emergency for about a month. The current state of emergency expires on May 6.

Abe spoke to reporters on Friday evening after being briefed on a meeting of a panel of experts advising the government.

A government panel of experts in Japan says social restrictions should vary by region depending on the scale of local coronavirus infections.

A nationwide state of emergency is set to expire on May 6. The government is planning to extend it for about one month, and is seeking experts' views.

Japan's education ministry is set to release guidelines on how schools closed due to the coronavirus outbreak could resume classes in stages.

Education minister Hagiuda Koichi said on Friday that local education boards across Japan will be informed of the guidelines the same day.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says his government plans to decide on Monday to extend the nationwide state of emergency for about a month.

The measure, taken in response to the coronavirus outbreak, is due to expire on Wednesday, May 6.

There were 165 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection reported in Tokyo on Friday. It was the first time in three days that the figure topped 100.

Fewer than 50 new infections were reported on Wednesday and Thursday.

Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi says experts want social restrictions to stay in place to prevent a new surge in coronavirus infections. Nishimura is the minister in charge of the government's response to the pandemic.

Nishimura spoke to reporters on Friday after a meeting of a panel of experts to assess the state of the outbreak.

Friday marks one year since Japan's Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne. He has taken part in a number of ceremonies related to his accession over the past 12 months.

The Emperor proclaimed his accession in an enthronement ceremony in October during which he pledged to fulfill his responsibility as the symbol of the State while turning his thoughts to the people and standing by them .

The Japanese government plans to provide help to municipalities struggling with paperwork related to the government's coronavirus cash handouts.

The handouts are part of the government's emergency economic rescue package aimed at offsetting the effects of the pandemic. The measure is funded by a fiscal 2020 supplementary budget enacted by the Diet on Thursday.