Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's sudden announcement that he intends to resign as the country continues to battle a resurgence in COVID-19 infections has been met with surprise and criticism by many people in Japan, with medical workers lamenting his slow and inadequate response to fight the virus.

"I thought he would stay on (as prime minister) a little longer," a 35-year-old female nurse in Sapporo who was among those caught off guard by Suga's abrupt announcement said Friday.

Suga's intention to step down came amid strong public criticism over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the delta variant rapidly spreading nationwide and 21 of Japan's 47 prefectures currently under a virus state of emergency.