Hospitals in Japan close to collapse as serious Covid cases soar

Experts warn fatalities could rise sharply and call for state of emergency to be extended

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Hospitals in Covid-hit regions of Japan are on the brink of collapse, medical experts have warned, as the country battles a third wave of infections that has caused record numbers of people to fall seriously ill.

Japan reported more than 4,900 coronavirus infections on Monday, with serious cases rising to a record high of 973, local media reported.