LOC11:30
08:30 GMT
TOKYO, Sept 18 (KUNA) - Japan reported 476 new cases of the coronavirus over the last 24 hours as of 04:00 p.m. (0700 GMT) on Friday, raising the nation's total number to 77,957, the health ministry and local authorities said.
The country's cumulative death toll rose by three to 1,491. Tokyo added 220 new cases, topping 200 for the first time in six days, which brought the total cases in the city of about 14 million people to 23,828.
The tallies exclude those who were linked to the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in February.
Meanwhile, Japan and Singapore on Friday resumed short-term business and official travel between the two countries without the requirement of a 14-day self-isolation upon arrival.
It is the first such framework that Japan has implemented with another country amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Business Track, or called Reciprocal Green Lane, allows the safe resumption of cross-border travel and business exchanges with the necessary public health safeguards, such as pre-departure and post-arrival coronavirus testing, as well as presentation of an itinerary for the first 14 days in the receiving country, according to the Foreign Ministry. (end)
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