The number of infections has been climbing steadily over the past week, Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Sunday.
The ministry also said the total death toll for the country currently stands at 990 (977 on land and 13 on the cruise ship.)
Nishimura said that the resumption of a state of emergency is not necessary at this stage, describing the new cases as “light or asymptomatic” and not a burden to Japan’s healthcare system.