Covid-19 infections in Japan rise to 924, death toll at 39

Visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) look at blooming cherry blossoms next to ropes cordonning off viewing parties at the area at Ueno park in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2020. - Reuters

TOKYO (Xinhua): Japan's health ministry and local governments said Thursday (March 19) by 11.30am local time that one person infected by the Covid-19 virus had died in Osaka and three new cases were confirmed in Hyogo, Wakayama and Ibaraki prefectures, bringing the total number of cases to 924.

The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 39 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.