The governor of Aichi Prefecture in central Japan says he will declare a state of emergency on Friday due to the continuing increase in coronavirus infections there.

Aichi currently has the fifth-largest number of coronavirus cases among Japan's 47 prefectures. But Prime Minister Abe Shinzo did not include the region in Tuesday's emergency declaration.

The Japanese government is preparing for a possible increase in domestic violence cases, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The government is concerned that domestic violence cases could surge, as the outbreak forces people to stay home and businesses to shut down. Such changes could heighten people's anxiety and stress levels and lead to a possible increase in domestic violence. Victims of domestic abuse are often unable to get away from their abusers.

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Tokyo and other areas has soared, pushing the total in Japan to more than 5,000.

As of 5:50 p.m. on Thursday, 320 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 5,292. The figure includes 14 people who returned from China on chartered planes. The figure also includes 96 people who are health ministry and quarantine officials, or were found to have the virus during arrival checks at airports, and other people.

Japan's minister in charge of coronavirus measures has warned of additional restrictions if the current efforts to reduce social contact are found to be inadequate.

Nishimura Yasutoshi made the remark during a teleconference with the leaders of major business organizations on Thursday.

The Japanese government will start mailing reusable cloth masks to all households in the country next week in a bid to address the continuing shortage.

Households in Tokyo and other urban areas will be the first to receive the masks as they have the largest number of coronavirus cases.

A Japanese university says it has received hundreds of complaints, some of them akin to threats, over coronavirus infections originating from its students.

The number of confirmed cases linked to students at Kyoto Sangyo University has reached 74 in 13 prefectures as of Wednesday.

Some Japanese businesses are giving financial support to employees who are teleworking or on furlough.

Marketplace-app operator Mercari decided to close its offices in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka after the government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday.

Japan's health ministry plans to expand the country's capacity to test for the coronavirus to 20,000 a day. It is also thinking about increasing drive-through testing.

The ministry says Japan now has the capacity for up to 12,000 daily tests, done by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, public health centers and others.

Japan's central government and the Tokyo metropolitan government are discussing which businesses should be asked to temporarily shut down following the state of emergency declaration over the coronavirus outbreak.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo declared a state of emergency for Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures on Tuesday, based on a revised law enacted last month.

Officials reported 144 new coronavirus cases in Tokyo on Wednesday. That's the largest daily increase so far.

More than 1,300 people have now tested positive across the capital, which is home to around 14 million people.

Japan has reported 309 more coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 4,768.

The figure reported on Wednesday includes people found to have the virus in airport quarantine checks, and those who returned to Japan on chartered planes from China.

Tokyo officials are reporting 144 new coronavirus cases in the Japanese capital. That's the largest daily increase so far.

More than 1,300 people have now tested positive across the city, which is home to around 14 million people.

Kyoto University Hospital in western Japan says it ordered 116 staff members to isolate themselves at home because they dined out or traveled, despite instructions not to do so.

The hospital says at least 44 doctors, 57 trainee doctors, and 15 others were found to have behaved contrary to the hospital's instructions. The staff members were ordered to avoid dining out or drinking alcohol with others, and also to refrain from traveling.

Homeless people are one particularly vulnerable group that are being affected by the state of emergency declaration by the Japanese government.

In Tokyo, about 4,000 of them sleep in 24-hour internet cafes, including a large number of women fleeing domestic violence.