Tokyo on Wednesday reported a daily record of 1,591 coronavirus cases as the national government prepares to declare a state of emergency this week to cope with a new wave of infections.

Toshio Nakagawa, head of the Japan Medical Association, called the situation extremely serious but stopped short of criticizing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga for acting too slow to contain the latest outbreak, as some have suggested.

"Please take this virus seriously, and don't think its just another flu," Nakagawa said, warning hospital care was getting stretched thin.

Japan has confirmed more than 250,000 cases, including over 3,700 deaths, AP reported.