The number of COVID-19 infections reported in Japan topped 1,500 on Sunday, including about 700 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined near Tokyo, as the government worked to curb the spread of the virus through various steps including asking people to avoid mass gatherings and implementing travel restrictions.
The Hokkaido Prefectural Government announced Monday that a man in his 80s who had been infected with the virus died, bringing the total number of deaths to 32. Authorities in Hokkaido also said four people newly tested positive.
The Niigata Municipal Government said a woman in her 50s who works at a day care facility had been confirmed as infected, after a man in his 80s who uses the facility tested positive on Saturday.