NHK has learned that the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases has drawn up a set of guidelines on diagnosis of seasonal influenza and COVID-19.

The association compiled the guidelines to advise hospitals and clinics on how to deal with the diseases.

The coronavirus shows no signs of a summer slowdown in Japan as the upward trend continues. Officials are turning a worried eye to the season's upcoming holidays.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is calling on people to keep taking thorough measures against the virus.

Over 1,300 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Sunday across Japan. Authorities have counted more than 1,000 new cases for five days in a row through Sunday.

In Tokyo, 292 new cases were reported on Sunday. The daily tally in the capital fell below 300 for the first time in four days.

Plant quarantine officials in Japan have had a number of inquiries about unsolicited packages of seeds apparently sent from China. They are calling on people not to plant them.

On Tuesday, a man in Miura City in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo received a silver packet containing a bag of dozens of seed-like objects, each measuring about 2 millimeters. The shipping label suggests it came from China.

Japan has hit a record high in daily coronavirus infections for a third day in a row. Officials say more than 1,500 cases were confirmed on Friday.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said, "We are closely watching the situation with a sense of high alert. We are prioritizing testing. We will conduct tests extensively to detect and isolate virus carriers."

Japan's government and major US pharmaceutical company Pfizer have reached an agreement over the supply of a coronavirus vaccine.

Japanese health minister Kato Katsunobu told reporters on Friday that under the deal, if Pfizer succeeds in developing the vaccine, it will supply Japan with 120 million doses for 60 million people by the end of June, 2021. A person needs to be vaccinated twice.

Japan has hit a new daily record of coronavirus infections. Nearly 1,500 cases were confirmed on Friday, and the figure is expected to rise further by the end of the day.

Tokyo also saw a record high number of cases, 463. That brings the total number of infections in the capital to nearly 12,700 with more than half coming in July.

Japan's health ministry says it has reached an agreement with major US pharmaceutical company Pfizer over the supply of a coronavirus vaccine.

Under the deal, if Pfizer succeeds in developing the vaccine, it will supply Japan with 120 million doses for 60 million people by the end of June, 2021.

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.

The Japanese government will allow the reentry of some foreign nationals with residence status, starting on August 5.

Japan currently denies entry of foreigners from 146 countries and regions as part of anti-coronavirus measures. Foreign residents are also barred from reentering Japan once they leave the country, unless there are special circumstances.

Japan's foreign minister has conveyed concerns to his Chinese counterpart over Beijing's introduction of a national security law for Hong Kong.

Motegi Toshimitsu talked with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi by phone on Wednesday. The talks took place at the request of Chinese authorities.

The coronavirus continues to spread across Japan. Nearly 1,000 cases were reported on Tuesday with several prefectures recording new daily records.

Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi said, "We have confirmed 155 infections. The number shows that the virus is spreading through community transmission."

The Meteorological Agency has called for caution against mudslides and flooding due to a record rainfall in Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan.

Weather officials forecast more heavy rain in the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture in northern Japan on Tuesday night.

A group of Japanese lawmakers is looking to place restrictions on Chinese-made apps out of concern that user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government.

The lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party say they will urge Japan's government to take legislative steps to limit the use of video-sharing app TikTok and others offered by Chinese firms.