COVID-19 cases top 1,500 in Japan The number of COVID-19 infections in Japan reached 1,500 on Sunday, even though the government tried keeping the virus from spread through various attempt. In Hokkaido, four people have been confirmed as infected, and in Niigata two people newly tested positive for a week. According to the health ministry, 15 clusters of infections have been confirmed as of noon Sunday. The ministry has sent health experts to sources of clusters of infections to hold back the spread of the virus. The number of infections in Japan becomes 9th place in the world, behind China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, France, Germany and the United States. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for school closure on all schools until spring break ends in early April and reduction of events.