TOKYO – The Delta variant has become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the Japanese capital, accounting for an estimated 95 percent of new cases, according to a health ministry advisory board.

TOKYO – Japan on Tuesday topped 100 million novel coronavirus vaccine shots administered, according to data from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

TOKYO – A further 14,207 new cases of novel coronavirus have been reported in Japan on Wednesday, the highest single-day count for the country, as the number of vaccination shots administered nears 97 million.

TOKYO – Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expanded its fourth coronavirus state of emergency, which has been in place for Tokyo and Okinawa Prefecture, to four more prefectures--Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama and Osaka--following record spikes in new cases in those areas from Monday until Aug. 31.