Surge deepens strains on Japan hospitals

Japan's medical system is coming under increasing strain as the nation contends with a spike in coronavirus infections.

Tokyo reported on Wednesday 572 new cases, the second-largest daily figure since the outbreak began. The city reached a record of 584 cases on Saturday.

In order to ease the strain on hospitals, Japan's Defense Ministry started sending Self-Defense Forces to prefectures to cope with the surge.

Nurses from the Ground Self-Defense Force were dispatched to two understaffed medical facilities in Asahikawa, the second-largest city in Hokkaido.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said on Tuesday the decision was made in response to a request by Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki.

Kishi said the ministry is also considering sending SDF medical personnel to other seriously impacted places such as Osaka. However, he acknowledged there are limits, saying it would be extremely difficult to accept all local requests.

"We take it very seriously that members of the SDF were sent here as their dispatch has been considered to be a last resort. We want to rely on their support to contain clusters of infections," said Go Asari, the person in charge of antivirus measures at Asahikawa's health center.