Japan's Golden Week holiday extended

Japan's "Golden Week" holiday season began Saturday, an event that normally prompts employees to take time off work and travel across the country or overseas.

But this year, because of the virus, the government has asked people to stay at home.

Officials in Tokyo are calling on companies to extend the break to 12 days, rebranding it the 'Stay At Home Weeks'.

Most major tourist attractions are closed to visitors in any case.

Parks are nearly empty, and some cable cars for accessing mountain hiking trails such as Enoshima and Kamakura have stopped operating.

Even the country's busiest street crossing, Shibuyo Junction in Tokyo, is quiet.

Meanwhile, an Italian cruise ship docked in the southern Japanese port city of Nagasaki is expected to finish testing all 623 crew members on board and announce the results this weekend.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK said around 60 new coronavirus cases were found on Saturday, raising the total tally to around 150.

The outbreak on the Costa Atlantica surfaced earlier in the week while the vessel was docked for repairs.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.