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Japan marked its grimmest day yet in the novel coronavirus pandemic with a record 146 COVID-19 patients dying across the nation on May 7.

Figures as of 11:30 p.m. show that records were broken in Osaka Prefecture,  which reported 50 deaths, and Hyogo Prefecture with 39 deaths.

The last time more than 100 fatalities occurred in a single day was Feb. 16 when 101 patients died.

Authorities said a total of 6,057 patients nationwide were confirmed with COVID-19 on May 7, the first time for the figure to exceed 6,000 since Jan. 16 when there were 7,042 cases.

Health ministry officials also said a record 1,131 patients had developed serious symptoms as of May 6.

Nine prefectures reported record daily COVID-19 figures on May 7.

A growing number of patients have died while waiting for hospital beds to free up.

Infection clusters in Kobe and Kadoma in Osaka Prefecture led to unusually high fatalities at facilities for senior citizens, with Kobe reporting 25 deaths and Kadoma 13. Of those who died in Kobe, 23 were awaiting transport to a hospital, while eight of those in Kadoma died before they could receive treatment at a hospital.

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