Japan reports 70 new virus cases, total at 16,851

TOKYO, May 30 (KUNA) - The number of Japan's new coronavirus infections rose by 70 to 16,851 over the last 24 hours as of 4:00 p.m. (0700 GMT) on Saturday, the health ministry and local authorities said.
The country's death toll rose by six to 883. The hardest-hit Tokyo reported 14 additional infections, which brought the total cases in the Japanese capital to 5,231.
The tallies exclude those who were linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined near Tokyo in February.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday lifted the state of emergency in the last five of the country's 47 prefectures ahead of the planned May 31 expiration.
Abe declared the emergency on April 7 initially for seven urban prefectures, then expanded it to the entire country in mid-April. (end) mk.gta