
Japan's health authority identified 5,953 Covid-19 infections Wednesday, a single-day record for new cases in the country.
Another 72 virus-related deaths were also reported Wednesday, authorities said.
The government is preparing to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures -- Saitama, Chiba and Kangawa -- where cases are spiking. Tokyo set its own record for number of infections identified in a day on Wednesday, with 1,591 new cases.
Health Ministry data shows that as of Wednesday, the number of patients in serious condition across Japan rose to 784, while 41,054 patients are being treated in hospital.
At least 259,105 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Japan, killing 3,904 people.