The total number of cases in Japan now stands at 55,905. That includes those found during airport quarantine checks, as well as 712 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked near Tokyo this year.

The death toll has reached 1,106, including 13 from the ship.

The health ministry says the number of patients critically ill with the virus was 229 as of Saturday.

So far 39,604 people have been discharged from hospitals, including 659 who were on the Diamond Princess.

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