All national papers except Asahi took up the disclosure by an association of university hospitals on Tuesday that some 35% of the 78 university hospitals nationwide are currently being forced to reduce the number of patients in their intensive care units since a growing portion of their medical resources are being taken up with treating COVID-19 patients. Almost 20% of the hospitals said they have turned down requests to accommodate outpatients that need emergency care. Some 16 of them have canceled or postponed nonessential surgeries. A spokesperson of the association called for the public to comply with prevention protocols and stay home to ensure the viability of the medical system in treating diseases other than COVID-19.