The Japanese government has decided to step up measures against highly venomous fire ants by designating them as an invasive alien species that requires urgent action.
Government officials made the decision amid a rise in cases nationwide involving fire ants. They fear the species, indigenous to South America, are on the brink of becoming established in Japan.
Japan's government plans to ask prefectures to send nurses and doctors to each other to ease the serious strain on hospitals treating coronavirus patients.
Government officials plan to launch a framework for inter-prefectural cooperation by seeking the support of the National Governors' Association.
NHK has learned that Japan's government advisory panel on the coronavirus pandemic has called for stronger measures against cluster infections and more effective border controls.
The panel came up with the emergency guidelines on Monday in response to a current surge of infections in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido and many other regions.