Broadcasters led with reports that 2,764 new COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide yesterday, dipping below 3,000 for the first time since Dec. 28, while the number of seriously ill patients reached a record high at 1,017 (NHK, TV Asahi); a man in Tokyo has tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19, bringing the total number of people infected with the new strain in Japan to 51 (NTV); the number of people dying of COVID-19 at home or in care facilities nationwide is surging this month (TBS); and Tokyo municipalities are concerned about their COVID-19 vaccination programs given the lack of clarity about vaccine supplies and shortage of medical practitioners and venues for vaccination (Fuji TV). 

Top stories in national dailies included a GOJ plan to finish vaccinating the elderly against COVID-19 in three months (Yomiuri), Prime Minister Suga’s rejection of the withdrawal of the 1 trillion yen budget for “Go To Travel” campaign (Asahi), an advisory by the labor standards office to Nippon Medical School to address the practice of having graduate students work at its affiliated hospital without payment (Mainichi), a plan by Nomura Asset Management to evaluate companies based on their decarbonization efforts as an investment factor (Nikkei), and friction between the United States and China over Taiwan (Sankei).