New data from Japan's health ministry show that the weekly number of new coronavirus cases in the country is increasing at a slower pace.

The data released at a meeting of experts at the ministry show that the nationwide figure for a week through Tuesday was up 6 percent from the previous week.

The weekly number increased in 34 prefectures.

The figures for Tokyo and Kanagawa were up 9 percent from the previous week.

The figure was up 27 percent in Okinawa, up 24 percent in Kumamoto, up 21 percent in Tokushima, and up 20 percent in Tottori.

Meanwhile, in 11 prefectures, mainly in northern prefectures, the number decreased.

The number of new cases per 100,000 people in the past week stood at 1,007 in Miyagi. It was the only prefecture that reported more than 1,000 cases.

Akita had 940.07 cases per 100,000 people, Fukushima 925.95 cases and Hokkaido 900.35 cases. Tokyo reported 588.28 cases. The nationwide average was 595.24.