Japan’s Hokkaido Declares State of Emergency Over Coronavirus

6 Diamond Princess Passengers Confirmed Dead

Mask-clad commuters make their way to work during morning rush hour at the Shinagawa train station in Tokyo on Feb. 28, 2020. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

The Japanese island of Hokkaido said it is declaring a state of emergency over the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, which comes as a sixth person from the Diamond Princess ship was confirmed to have died from the illness.

The governor of the northern island state, Naomichi Suzuki, said the virus spread is becoming more serious, reported NHK.