Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has announced a plan to prevent infections of Omicron variant spreading through families.

She said, "The number of seriously ill patients in Tokyo is growing. If this situation continues, it will have a serious impact on the lives of people in the capital."

Koike said the government will subsidize hotel stays for elderly people who want to isolate away from family members who've tested positive. The aim is to prevent transmission to a demographic with a high risk of becoming seriously ill.

Tokyo confirmed nearly 20,000 new cases of the virus on Friday. Eight people died. All were over the age of 60.

Nationwide, more than 95,000 new infections were confirmed, and 101 deaths. It is the first time since last June that the death toll has reached triple figures.