Hospital beds in Japan are rapidly filling up as the number of cases of the coronavirus infection continue to rise.
A health ministry report shows as of Tuesday, seven prefectures were at Stage 4, the most critical of the government's four-tier alert system. Two more prefectures, Aichi and Mie, have been added to the five that were already at that stage previous week.
Unusually heavy snowfall for this time of the year is wreaking havoc across many parts of Japan. Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has instructed his cabinet ministers to provide support for local governments affected.
Suga held a meeting with relevant Cabinet ministers on Thursday, as the heavy snow is forecast to continue this week.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has raised its healthcare alert to the highest level for the first time as coronavirus infections continue to spread.
Tokyo's advisory panel of infectious disease and public health experts said at a meeting on Thursday that the healthcare system is on the verge of a crisis.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has raised its healthcare system alert to the highest level as the number of cases continues to surge.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials confirmed more than 500 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, the most ever reported in a single day. Tokyo has risen its alert to the highest of four levels, for the first time since September.
Tokyo confirmed 534 new cases across the capital on Thursday.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government confirmed more than 500 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday -- breaking a record set only a day earlier. The capital also raised the pandemic alert to its highest level, but it's unclear what effect that will have on daily life.
Experts told officials Thursday that infection is now spreading rapidly. And the surge in cases isn't confined to Tokyo.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to raise its coronavirus alert level to the highest of four levels on Thursday. The COVID-19 outbreak is flaring up in the Japanese capital.
Infectious disease experts and doctors are scheduled to meet on Thursday to assess the current situation.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it will raise the coronavirus alert to the highest level on Thursday amid a recent surge in infections.
A panel of infectious disease experts has urged people in Tokyo to be on high alert for the coronavirus as a rapid increase in infections is just beginning.
Officials of the Tokyo metropolitan government and experts on public health and infectious diseases met on Thursday to assess the coronavirus situation.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says the government is on the highest alert following the recent nationwide surge in coronavirus infections and is taking steps to curb the spread.
Kato was speaking at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido has decided to raise its alert for the coronavirus outbreak by one notch to Level 3 on a scale of five.
The move comes after the prefectural government raised the alert to Level 2 in October amid a resurgence in the number of new infections. The government asked residents and businesses to cooperate with the various restrictions.
NHK has learned that Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido is considering raising its alert for the coronavirus outbreak to Level 3 on Sunday.
The prefecture is expected to make a decision on Saturday.
NHK has learned that Japan's Foreign Ministry is considering lowering the travel alert that has been issued for the entire world due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The ministry raised the alert to Level 2, the third-highest on a scale of 1 to 4, in March for the whole world and asked people to avoid nonessential travels.
Tokyo has kept its coronavirus alert at the second highest level on a four-point scale, and warned that the capital is facing the risk of a rapid increase in new cases.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government made the decision on Thursday at a meeting with public health and infectious disease experts to assess the situation.