TOKYO: Seventy novel coronavirus infection cases were newly confirmed in Japan on Thursday, of which 41 were recorded in Tokyo.

Some infections were reported in prefectures where no new case had been reported for over a month.

One fatal case was reported each in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, and Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan. As a result, the nationwide death toll rose to 954.

The daily count of infections in Tokyo topped 40 for the first time in three days, according to the metropolitan government. Ten of them were apparently nightlife-related cases.

In Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, a man in his 20s engaged in a job related to construction was found infected. It was the first confirmed case in the northeastern prefecture in 51 days.

In neighboring Fukushima Prefecture, a Fukushima University student in her 20s was found infected, the prefecture's first case in 41 days. A friend of the woman from Tokyo stayed at her home from Saturday to Monday.

Infection cases were also confirmed in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, and Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, after a break of about one month.