Sources with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government say 144 more cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed on Wednesday. The figure is the largest for a single day.

The new cases bring the total number of people in Tokyo who've tested positive for the virus to 1,339.

E-commerce giant Rakuten says more than 700 hotels on its travel website can accommodate patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus.

Rakuten officials say they want to help free up space at overburdened hospitals. They say they are approaching 36,000 accommodations, and that so far, 744 say they are available. Rakuten says this would open up about 91,000 rooms.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide says the government is not thinking about asking train operators to reduce services under the current state of emergency due to the spread of coronavirus infections.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures on Tuesday over the virus outbreak.

The number of new coronavirus infection cases in Japan as of Wednesday before noon was 31, bringing the total to 4,490.

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

Japan's prefectural leaders say they will ask the central government to provide compensation for losses incurred as a result of the restraints on businesses due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The National Governors' Association held an emergency online task force meeting on Wednesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said the country will make it out of the state of emergency in a month with the cooperation of citizens.

Abe told reporters on Wednesday that he is thankful for the cooperation of people in response to the declaration he made the previous day.

Train and bus companies in the Tokyo area say they are operating as usual on Wednesday despite a state of emergency declaration.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made the declaration on Tuesday for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures, saying it will be effective through May 6.

More than 60 countries and regions have already declared a state of emergency. Here's what it means in Japan.

People in areas subject to the declaration will be asked to stay at home. But it is only a request -- and not mandatory. Public transit will not be stopped because it is deemed an essential service. Supermarkets and stores selling food, medicine and necessary daily goods will also stay open.

Japan's Cabinet has approved emergency economic measures of record proportions to deal with the impact of the coronavirus. The package is worth about 108 trillion yen, or one trillion dollars. The government plans to issue additional bonds to help fund the spending.

Also included is a plan to secure enough of the flu drug Avigan by the end of next March to potentially treat up to two million people infected with the new coronavirus.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko says the names of facilities to be closed down under a state of emergency declared by the prime minister will be announced on Friday.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for Tokyo and six other prefectures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says he intends to call on people to stay home even though there will be no police crackdown on violations.

Abe held a news conference on Tuesday after declaring a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

People in the areas covered by the state of emergency in Japan have had mixed reactions to the declaration.

A man in Osaka said, "Despite the spread of infection, the government has been reluctant to make this declaration. I feel like it's a bit late."

Japan's prime minister has officially declared a month-long state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures to curb the spread of infections.

Abe Shinzo held a news conference Tuesday night to explain the decision which will affect tens of millions of people. He began by thanking health care workers across the country who have dealt with more than 4,300 COVID-19 cases so far.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has begun moving people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus but have only mild or no symptoms to a hotel.

The government rented the budget hotel in central Tokyo to temporarily accommodate such patients.