Japan's health ministry says the number of people seriously ill with COVID-19 peaked about one month after the country registered its highest daily tally of new cases.
The ministry compiled data from 6,462 hospitals that accepted coronavirus patients in April and May.
Japan's health ministry has issued a checklist of 13 coronavirus symptoms which indicate that a person should consult a medical expert immediately.
The list is designed for patients with mild symptoms who are recuperating at designated accommodation facilities or at home.
Japan's health ministry says those who died or got seriously ill from the coronavirus were largely elderly but also included younger people.
The ministry released a breakdown of cases in Japan by age group, including deaths and seriously ill patients.
Japan's health ministry plans to expand the country's capacity to test for the coronavirus to 20,000 a day. It is also thinking about increasing drive-through testing.
The ministry says Japan now has the capacity for up to 12,000 daily tests, done by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, public health centers and others.
Japan's health ministry has released a map showing clusters of coronavirus infections in the country.
The map on the ministry's website shows 15 clusters in 10 prefectures, as of Sunday.
Japan's health ministry plans to review its handling of coronavirus infections on the cruise ship Diamond Princess.
At a news conference on Sunday, health minister Katsunobu Kato said the ministry has collected necessary data and will choose an appropriate time for the review, while keeping a close watch on the outbreak in Japan.
Japan's health ministry will issue guidance for nursing homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus among the elderly, whose symptoms could get serious if infected.
The ministry plans to notify local governments of the new measures as early as Monday.
NHK has learned that a large number of health ministry officials who boarded the cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo were allowed to return to their workplace without being tested for the new coronavirus.
As of Friday, 634 passengers and crewmembers on the Diamond Princess had tested positive.
Japan's health ministry says another one of its officials who had been working on the quarantined cruise ship docked in Yokohama, near Tokyo, is confirmed to have the new coronavirus.
The man in his 50s had been gathering information on the virus-stricken Diamond Princess to relay to the ministry between Tuesday and Saturday.
Japan's health minister Katsunobu Kato says his ministry is working to identify the infection routes of the new coronavirus after the first virus-related death in the country on Thursday.
Kato told reporters on Friday that people must be concerned about becoming infected.
Officials at Japan's transport ministry say they have talked by phone with five Japanese nationals on board the cruise ship, Westerdam.
The ship was refused permission to dock at several destinations including Japan after leaving Hong Kong amid fears of the spreading coronavirus.
Japan's Defense Ministry is considering offering a ferry as temporary accommodation for evacuees from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak.
The evacuees have been transported from Wuhan aboard government-chartered flights. They are being housed at a hotel in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, and elsewhere in the capital after being checked by medical professionals.
Japan's Justice Ministry has responded to criticism of the country's criminal justice system by offering a point-by-point explanation on its website.
A section on frequently asked questions features 14 questions and answers in Japanese and English.
Health Minister Katsunobu Kato has disclosed plans to step up measures at ports of entry from China to prevent the spread of infections caused by a new strain of the coronavirus.
Questionnaires about symptoms will be distributed to passengers arriving on flights from Wuhan, China, where the deadly outbreak began.