Most of Japan's prefectures are seeing a rise in the number of novel coronavirus infections, with Osaka Prefecture logging a single-day record of 666 cases, further fueling concerns over a sharp resurgence, Kyodo cited the Japanese health ministry data as showing Saturday. Of Japan's 47 prefectures, 42 have reported an increase in virus cases compared with the previous week, putting a strain on the country's medical system amid a rise in occupancy rates in hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The tally comes after the central government designated Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi prefectures for stronger anti-virus measures effective from the coming Monday for one month. Steps include introducing fines for eateries that ignore mandates to shorten operating hours. Osaka reported over 600 daily cases for the third consecutive day, with Saturday's tally exceeding the previous record of 654 on Jan. 8 during the third wave of the pandemic. The western Japan prefecture's daily infections exceeded Tokyo's 446 cases reported Saturday. The Japanese capital saw a decrease in virus cases following a state of emergency in January through the beginning of March but is similarly experiencing a rebound.
