COVID-19 infections in Japan rise to 984

Pedestrians wearing masks pass a suspended theatre in Tokyo, Japan, on March 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

Japan's health ministry and local governments said Friday the number of COVID-19 infections nationwide has risen to 984 cases as of 7:00 p.m. local time here.

The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 41 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.

Of the 984 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan, the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido recorded 158 cases, followed by Aichi Prefecture with 134 confirmed cases, Osaka has 119, Tokyo 118, Hyogo 100 and Kanagawa Prefecture has confirmed 68 COVID-19 infections, according to the latest statistics from health ministry and local authorities.

The health ministry said there are currently a total of 61 patients considered severely ill and are on ventilators to receive respiratory assistance or have been admitted to intensive care units.

The ministry said, meanwhile, that a total of 766 people have been discharged from hospitals after their symptoms improved.