Japan has reported 200 coronavirus infection cases in a day for the first time.
Tokyo confirmed a record 63 cases on Saturday. Neighboring Chiba Prefecture also reported more than 60 cases. That figure includes 57 cases connected to a facility for people with disabilities.
The Japanese government plans to quickly draw up an emergency stimulus package to cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The package will include cash handouts to struggling households and will be on a larger scale than similar measures taken during the 2008 global financial crisis.
Foreign residents in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo are turning to a medical facility offering service in six languages for help amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Staff at the Kobayashi International Clinic in Yamato City can respond to patients in six languages, including English, Korean and Tagalog.
Non-Japanese speakers who want advice on the new coronavirus can call hotlines run by the Japan Tourism Agency and some local governments.
The agency offers consultation services in English, Chinese, and Korean for 24 hours every day. The number is 050-3816-2787.
A low pressure system and a cold air mass brought snow to wide areas of the Kanto and Koshin regions in Japan on Sunday.
The snow is accumulating even on the plains of southern Kanto, including central Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture.
Japan's prime minister has warned people in the country to brace for a prolonged battle against the coronavirus.
Shinzo Abe said that outbreaks in the United States and Europe suggest the number of cases in Japan could jump by more than 30 times in just two weeks.
A low pressure system and a cold air mass is likely to bring snow to Tokyo and its surrounding areas on Sunday.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says snow is expected to fall in wide areas of the Kanto region, including Tokyo, from the early hours on Sunday until noon.
A request by Tokyo's governor that people stay home this weekend amid the coronavirus outbreak had shown some results on Saturday morning. Observers reported seeing fewer people than usual around the major rail hub of Shibuya.
A few people were sitting on the benches near the Hachiko dog statue, a popular meeting spot.
Most supermarkets in Tokyo are operating as usual despite residents being asked to stay home as much as possible to limit infections from the coronavirus.
Saturday is the first day since the governor's request that people cancel non-essential outings for the weekend. The appeal prompted a rush on stores earlier in the week as shoppers stocked up on groceries.
China's Ambassador to Japan says Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to hold telephone talks soon to discuss how to jointly respond to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Ambassador Kong Xuanyou made the remarks at the Japan National Press Club on Friday. He said arrangements are being made for telephone talks between Xi and Abe.
The Japanese government is expected to decide on a set of basic guidelines to fight the coronavirus as early as Saturday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed a new government task force on Thursday to create such guidelines. The task force was established based on a new law that allows the prime minister to declare a state of emergency.
The governor of Tokyo has again urged people to refrain from non-essential outings, warning that the capital is at a critical juncture in preventing an explosive spread of the coronavirus.
Yuriko Koike made the appeal as she reported 40 new cases in Tokyo on Friday. The Japanese capital has seen 40 or more new patients for three straight days.
Some of the major theme parks in Japan that have closed due to the coronavirus outbreak are planning to extend the shutdowns for even longer.
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea will keep their doors closed beyond a planned reopening in early April. The operator Oriental Land says visitors won't be able to enjoy the parks again until April 20th at the earliest.
Four more coronavirus infections have been reported in Japan as of Friday afternoon, bringing the total number to 1,405. This includes 14 confirmed cases among people who returned from China's Hubei Province on chartered flights.
The figure was provided by the health ministry and local governments. It includes 33 cases among health ministry staff, quarantine officers and those who were found to have the virus during arrival checks at airports.