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TOKYO, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Cabinet was almost flat at 56 percent, a nationwide poll showed on Monday.

According to the survey conducted by Japan's public broadcaster NHK between Friday and Sunday of people aged 18 or older, the approval rating for Suga's Cabinet stood at 56 percent, one point more than the previous survey, while the disapproval rate dropped one point to 19 percent.

When Suga took office in September after his predecessor Shinzo Abe stepped down for health reasons, his new Cabinet had an approval rating of 62 percent.

Of those who support Suga's Cabinet, 27 percent said the administration "seems better than other alternatives," while 25 percent said they trust Suga.

Of those who disapprove the Cabinet, 36 percent said they don't expect much from the Cabinet's policies, while 26 percent said they don't trust Suga, NHK's poll showed.

As regards the COVID-19 outbreak, 28 percent said they are very concerned that they or their family members may get infected with the coronavirus, while 51 percent said they are concerned to some extent. Meanwhile, 13 percent said they are not so concerned, and 3 percent said they are not concerned at all.

When asked about the continuing dispute over Suga's rejection to appoint six nominees to the Science Council of Japan, 17 percent said the prime minister's explanation so far was enough, while 62 percent said it was not enough.

It was the first time since 2004 that a prime minister has decided against appointing nominees and Suga's approval ratings have dropped in the wake of the decision and controversy. Enditem