Japan's minister in charge of the coronavirus response is recommending more detailed analysis of infection cases to better tackle the outbreak.

Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi was speaking to reporters on Friday. He referred to the nationwide tally of daily new cases that topped 1,000 on Thursday for the first time since August 21.

Japan's transport ministry has approved a measure allowing some taxi operators to reject passengers who refuse to wear face masks without proper reasons.

Ten taxi operators, including a major taxi company in Tokyo, had asked the ministry to review their rules. Taxi drivers are essentially banned from refusing passengers except under some circumstances.

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.

NHK has learned that Tokyo officials estimate the number of coronavirus tests needed per day will be 7.5 times current capacity if the flu spreads in the capital.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government made the estimate at the request of the central government.

An expert panel has basically approved anti-infection measures to be taken for next year's standardized university entrance exams in Japan, which would take place amid the pandemic.

The measures will allow "close contact" to an infected person to take the test under conditions.

A new survey shows that an increasing number of cancer patients have refrained from going to see doctors amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But it also shows that some were able to cope with anxiety with better information.

Japan's Foreign Ministry plans to launch a research and study project to help create international rules on how to handle infectious disease outbreaks onboard cruise ships.

In February, coronavirus cluster infections were confirmed aboard the Diamond Princess, a cruise vessel registered in Britain and operated by a US company.

A third-party panel of experts has compiled a report on the Japanese government's initial response to the pandemic. They say some of the measures were too little and too late.

One of the focal points of the report was the government's border control response.

NHK has learned that only 40 percent of medical institutions in Japan are entering information directly into an online system for sharing data on coronavirus infections nationwide.

The Health Center Real-time information-sharing System on COVID-19, or HER-SYS, was introduced in medical institutions and public health centers in May.

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that his country will continue to work with the United Nations in the fight against the coronavirus.

Suga and Guterres held a teleconference for 20 minutes on Thursday morning.

Japan's health ministry will study possible glitches in its coronavirus contact tracing app, as an increasing number of users have been complaining about it.

The ministry says the app, known as COCOA, had been downloaded more than 17 million times as of Thursday since its launch in June.

The Tokyo Metropolitan government says it confirmed 80 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday.

It's the first time the daily figure has dropped below 100 since September 7. But officials are again urging thorough infection prevention measures, saying the pace of decline in the numbers is slowing down.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 226 new cases of the coronavirus in the capital on Saturday.

New infections again topped 200 after a dip on Friday.

A new survey shows that about 80 percent of the children who contracted the coronavirus in Japan were likely infected by family members.

The Japan Pediatric Society has created a database of coronavirus infected children from newborn to the age of 19. The data was provided by medical institutions from across the country that participated in the survey.