Nikkei, Asahi, and Mainichi wrote that an expert panel advising the Health Ministry released its analysis on Thursday that the number of new COVID-19 cases, which had been at around the same level until recently, is now on a slight upward trend. Nikkei wrote that moves to prepare hospitals to accept patients who are in serious condition or at high risk, such as elderly people, are spreading nationwide ahead of the winter, when the virus is expected to become more active.