Japan's health minister says the country is "facing a different situation" when it comes to the spread of the coronavirus which originated in China.

Katsunobu Kato told reporters this week that Japanese people must be wary about becoming infected by COVID-19.

The warning comes after the first virus-related death in the country and reports of new infection cases.

The government is having difficulty tracking the infection routes.

According to the Kyodo News agency, Japan has seen an increase in coronavirus patients "from people with no direct connection to China."

Meanwhile, the U.S. government is sending a chartered plane to Japan this weekend to evacuate citizens on a cruise ship under quarantine near Tokyo, where some passengers are infected.

Kyodo News also reports staff with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are also in Japan to help monitor the health of passengers on the ship.