Japan's nationwide COVID-19 infections top 30,000

The confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan topped 30,000 on Saturday, according to the latest figures from the health ministry and local authorities, with the figure including cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama near Tokyo.

As of 8:00pm local time Saturday, the confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide have increased by 754 to reach 30,494, including 712 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 1,009 people, including 13 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

In Tokyo, the epicenter of Japan's outbreak, 295 new cases were reported on Saturday, which is the second-highest daily tally for Tokyo after it logged a record-high of 366 cases on Thursday.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Saturday urged residents to wear masks and take measures to curb the spreading of the virus.

According to Koike, although young people in their 20s and 30s account for some 60 percent of total infections, cases are spreading among those in their 40s and 50s and also to the Tama district of western Tokyo from the central area.

Along with Tokyo, some other urban areas have also seen sharp increases of infections since a nationwide state of emergency was completely lifted in late May.

Despite rising numbers of coronavirus infections, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday maintained that the situation did not warrant another state of emergency for the time being.