TOKYO — Japan’s Tourism Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said Saturday the government is planning to extend its domestic travel subsidy program by five months through the end of June to support the economy hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, a move that comes despite the record number of severe cases and deaths currently being reported across the country, Kyodo reported.

Japan saw a record 45 deaths from the novel coronavirus on Friday, with severe cases also hitting a record 505 as it continues to grapple with a spike in infections.

The number of people with severe symptoms increased by eight from Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, setting a record for the second consecutive day and marking the first time the count has topped 500.

With the rise in the number of severely ill patients starting to put a strain on hospitals, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday that the government is tackling the latest surge in coronavirus infections with a "strong sense of crisis."

Japan saw a total of over 2,200 new infections the same day, bringing its nationwide tally to around 158,800. The death toll stands at over 2,300. Tokyo, the hardest hit among Japan's 47 prefectures, reported 449 new cases, dropping below 500 for the first time in three days.

The "Go To Travel" campaign, which was launched in July and offers certain discounts on travel costs, will continue beyond its original end date in late January. The plan is expected to be included in an economic stimulus package to be approved by the government next week.

"We will review the system in stages and respond based on the situation of infections," Akaba told a press conference.

The government is considering gradually reducing the discount rate in order to make the decline in travel demand as slow as possible once the program ends, he said. It is also looking to increase the rate on weekdays so that fewer people travel using the program on weekends and holidays.

Under the 1.35 trillion yen ($13 billion) scheme, a 35 percent discount is given for hotel and package tour expenses, while an additional 15 percent discount is offered in the form of coupons for shopping and dining at travel destinations.

As of Nov. 15, a total discount of 250.9 billion yen was provided for 52.6 million overnight stays under the campaign. — SPA/Kyodo