NHK has learned the details of a second emergency package by the Japanese government to fund programs and enforce new regulations for containing the coronavirus outbreak.

Sources say one measure will provide funding to improve the availability of testing for the virus.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will fully consider the possible impact on individual rights if a state of emergency is declared over the coronavirus outbreak.

Abe was speaking on Monday at an Upper House committee that is discussing a bill that would allow the prime minister to declare a state of emergency.

Japan's government is ramping up its battle against the coronavirus. The prime minister wants opposition leaders to back plans allowing him to declare a state of emergency should that become necessary.

This comes as the number of infections reported in the nation climbs above 1,000... including over 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The declaration of a coronavirus emergency in the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido has brought an abrupt halt to public activities. Streets are quiet in the prefectural capital Sapporo, one day after the measure came into effect.

Governor Naomichi Suzuki on Friday declared the three-week emergency period through March 19. He urged residents to refrain from going out over this weekend.

The governor of the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido has declared a three-week emergency period in response to an outbreak of the new coronavirus in the region.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Naomichi Suzuki said the situation is getting more serious.

The governor of Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido has declared the spread of the virus in his prefecture an emergency, calling on residents to stay home this weekend and only go out if necessary.

Naomichi Suzuki said, " I believe that, if nothing is done, the coronavirus infection would spread rapidly. In order to bring an end to this issue as soon as possible, and to protect the lives and health of the residents and minimize the impact on the livelihood, I believe that this is the crucial moment. We must take unprecedented measures in order to curb the situation."

The governor of Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido has declared a state of emergency in response to the high number of people infected with the new coronavirus there.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Naomichi Suzuki also called on local residents to refrain from going out this weekend.

The Japanese government has launched a 136-million-dollar package to fight the coronavirus outbreak. It includes funds for the development of a vaccine and treatment for the illness caused by the virus.

The emergency plan was approved on Thursday at a task force meeting attended by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his full Cabinet.

The Japanese government has devised the first set of emergency measures to deal with the new coronavirus outbreak.

The government aims to have a system at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo that can significantly increase the number of samples tested at one time. It will also promote speedy tests at 83 public health institutes across Japan.

A helicopter operated by the Fukushima Prefectural police made an emergency landing into a rice field Saturday morning, seriously injuring one person.

Fukushima police say the crashed helicopter was carrying an organ for a heart transplant. Seven people were on board including a doctor, nurse and police personnel.

A third chartered plane has repatriated 149 people from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, to Japan.

The evacuees were sent to medical institutions to be tested for the virus.