The Japanese government will extend the dispatch of a liaison team to the southern prefecture of Okinawa beyond Saturday in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus infections there.

Okinawa is the only prefecture to have reported more than 600 new cases per 100,000 people in the past week. Its occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients is also rising.

As of Thursday, the percentage of people in Okinawa who had received their third vaccine shots stood at just 35 percent, well below the nationwide figure of 47 percent.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio decided an extended dispatch would help to better resolve local issues. He will also appoint an official in charge of vaccination to the liaison team.

The government believes the situation in Okinawa does not require quasi-emergency restrictions to be put in place immediately.

It plans to encourage vaccinations and expand testing in cooperation with local municipalities in a bid to avert a further rise in cases ahead of a string of spring holidays from late April to early May.