Japan saw 453 new coronavirus cases nationwide on Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced Thursday, bringing the total number of cases for the country to 23,602 (22,890 on land and 712 on Diamond Princess cruise ship).
The total death toll stands at 998 (985 on land and 13 on the cruise ship.)
Two prefectures have also recorded their highest number of daily infections since lifting the state of emergency on May 25. Osaka, the second biggest city in Japan, confirmed 66 cases on Thursday, while Kanagawa prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, recorded 48 cases on Thursday.
Tokyo raised the alert level for coronavirus infections in the capital to the highest of four levels Wednesday.