Tokyo, August 17, 2021, SPA -- Japan is set to decide on Tuesday to extend a COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo and five other prefectures through Sept. 12 and add seven more prefectures as the resurgence of infections increasingly puts a strain on hospital beds, Kyodo reported. Minister in Charge of Japan's coronavirus response, Yasutoshi Nishimura, said the measures are needed to curb the number of new coronavirus cases as well as "ensure and strengthen medical care in each area." The move comes with the highly contagious Delta variant of the novel coronavirus running rampant. The number of COVID-19 patients with serious symptoms hit 1,646 as of Monday, marking a record high for the fifth straight day, the health ministry said. They include people in intensive care units and those on respirators or life support. A total of 14,854 new COVID-19 cases were reported Monday across the country, up around 2,700 from a week earlier, according to a tally based on local governments' data. --SPA 13:24 LOCAL TIME 10:24 GMT 0008 www.spa.gov.sa/w1603663