Tokyo, Nov 28 (TIWN) The Japanese government on Friday said that a new round of coronavirus antibody tests on some 15,000 people will be completed by the end of this year, as it seeks to better grasp the scale of the pandemic's spread in the country.

Health Minister Norihisa Tamura told a press conference that the tests will take place in Tokyo, Osaka and three other prefectures including Miyagi, Aichi and Fukuoka, reports Xinhua news agency.   Japan has witnessed a recent rapid resurgence in the number of new cases, with several major cities, including Tokyo and Osaka, requesting night-life establishments to shorten their operating hours to prevent the spread of the virus.  According to the Ministry, the results will help health officials understand more accurately to what extent the pandemic has spread in the country as antibodies to the virus would be present even in those who are without symptoms.