All TV networks gave top coverage to reports that 97 additional cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Tokyo on Thursday, another daily high, saying that the routes of infection for nearly one-third of them remain unknown. The networks also said about 30 of the 97 new cases are connected to cluster infections at two hospitals in Tokyo. NHK said there were a total of 276 new cases nationwide on Thursday.

All national dailies led with reports related to COVID-19, including a GOJ plan to provide each household hit hard by the outbreak with 200,000 yen ($1,900) in cash, moves by several prefectural governments to rent hotel rooms for quarantining asymptomatic patients, and decisions by a growing number of municipalities to postpone the opening of the new school year that was originally scheduled for next week.