Japan's health ministry said it's ready to respond to up to 900,000 coronavirus and influenza patients a day in the event of a double outbreak.

The ministry, earlier, estimated that daily coronavirus cases would reach a peak of 450,000, and the number of people contracting influenza would rise to 300,000 per day.

Coronavirus infections appear to be picking up in Japan, according to the latest seven-day average of new cases. The country is facing an eighth wave of the outbreak.

Data released by the health ministry show that the nationwide average has risen for seven weeks in a row.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 327 new cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed on Sunday.

This is the 12th day in a row that the daily case count has exceeded 300 in the Japanese capital.

NHK has learned that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is planning a six-fold increase in coronavirus testing capacity, in anticipation of a simultaneous outbreak of seasonal influenza.

Tokyo currently has a testing capacity of 10,200 per day. However, experts have warned that the capital should prepare for another wave of coronavirus infections.

Experts have maintained the coronavirus alert level for Tokyo at the second highest on a four-point scale, and warned that vigilance is needed over the effects of the four-day holiday through Tuesday.

Officials of the Tokyo metropolitan government and experts on public health and infectious diseases met on Thursday to assess the coronavirus situation.

A 4-day holiday in Japan saw bigger crowds at some places than were seen between mid-January and mid-February before the spread of coronavirus.

Mobile operator NTT Docomo gathered data on foot traffic while preserving privacy.

Japan's new Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says his cabinet is in full swing and ready to get down to business on its first full day in office.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Suga said, "I am determined to work hard for the Japanese people and will try to live up to their expectations."

Japan's main governing Liberal Democratic Party will vote on Monday for its new leader, who is expected to replace outgoing Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at the helm of the government. Candidates are seeking as much additional support as possible on Sunday, the last day of campaigning.

The election will be contested by former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide and LDP policy chief Kishida Fumio.

Japanese authorities staged a drill on Tuesday under the scenario of a major earthquake striking the country.

September 1 is Disaster Prevention Day in Japan. This day commemorates the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which left more than 100,000 people dead in and around Tokyo.

Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is visiting a Tokyo hospital on Monday. One of his secretaries says Abe is having a one-day check-up.

Abe arrived at Keio University Hospital on Monday morning.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported a record 472 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday. It is the second day in a row that the daily tally in the Japanese capital has topped 400.

The capital reported 463 cases on Friday.

Japan's health minister says he wants to raise the country's coronavirus testing capacity at airports to prepare for easing of travel restrictions.

Kato Katsunobu told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to raise the number of PCR tests at airports from the current maximum of 2,300 per day to 10,000 by the end of September. He said he will do so by encouraging the use of saliva in such tests.

The new coronavirus infection count has been rising across the nation with more than 200 cases reported in Tokyo on Sunday.

Metropolitan government officials say 206 new cases were confirmed in the capital. That makes it the fourth day in a row the figure has topped 200.

Officials from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government say 206 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

The figure has topped 200 for the fourth day in a row.