COVID-19 infections in Japan rise to 505 cases, 16 dead
TOKYO, March 9 (Xinhua) –: The number of COVID-19 infections in Japan increased by 10 to reach 505 as of 8:30 p.m. local time on Monday, according to data from Japan’s health ministry and local governments.
The 696 cases on the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship previously quarantined in Yokohama Port were calculated separately. The majority of confirmed cases stemmed from Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido which has reported 108 cases and declared a state of emergency over the situation.
According to the latest statistics, Aichi Prefecture has 85 confirmed cases, Tokyo 64, Osaka 55, Kanagawa 41 and Chiba Prefecture has confirmed 22 COVID-19 infections.
The health ministry said 33 patients considered severely ill are on ventilators to receive respiratory assistance or have been admitted to intensive care units for medical treatment. The death toll in Japan from the virus currently stands at 16, including seven from the Diamond Princess, according to the health ministry.
The ministry also said that 346 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovery.
