The total number of people who have been infected with the new coronavirus in Japan, excluding those who contracted it aboard a cruise ship, topped 1,000 on Friday.
Fifty-four new infections were reported, bringing the number of COVID-19 cases in the country as of Friday, including the 14 who were repatriated to Japan on government-arranged flights from central China, to 1,012, according to a Kyodo News and Japan Times tally.
Including the cases confirmed among passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess quarantined near Tokyo in February, the number reached 1,724.
Three more deaths were reported Friday, bringing the death toll to 43, including those from the Diamond Princess.
Of Japan's 47 prefectures, five have reported over 100 cases, including the hardest-hit Hokkaido, Tokyo and Osaka.