Total Cases In Japan Top 12,000
Health officials in Japan say more than 430 new cases and 29 deaths were reported on Thursday. The total number of confirmed cases is now over 12,000.
This does not include 712 cases linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined near Tokyo in February.
More than 300 people have died across the country.
Among them is a man in his 50s living in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo. He initially exhibited mild symptoms but his condition worsened while waiting to be hospitalized.
Saitama governor Ono Motohiro said, "Health officials talked to the victim and prepared for his admission to hospital. But the following day his condition worsened and he passed away. It is very regrettable. We will look into the case and seek ways to improve the admission process."
The case prompted a change in government policy. Health Minister Kato Katsunobu said he'd instruct local authorities to send people with mild symptoms to hotels or other facilities where they can be monitored closely.
