Tokyo Reports 197 New Cases, a Record High... Abe Says "Many Infections Confirmed in Busy Districts"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Kyodo News reported that 197 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were confirmed on the 11th in the Tokyo area of Japan.

This number surpassed the previous day's record of 189 cases, marking the highest daily count for the fourth consecutive day.

As a result, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Tokyo rose to 1,902.

As of 6 p.m. on the same day, an additional 359 infections were confirmed across 22 prefectures including Tokyo.

Including these, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan reached 6,539 (including those identified at airport quarantine and returnees on charter flights).

Adding 712 passengers from the cruise ship "Diamond Princess," where a cluster infection occurred, the total number of infections in Japan rose to 7,251, surpassing 7,000.

The death toll increased by 3 on the day, bringing the total to 136, including 124 domestic infections and 12 cruise ship passengers.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced at the COVID-19 task force meeting held that day that the basic response policy would be changed to request people to refrain from using restaurants and other establishments in busy downtown areas across Japan to reduce person-to-person contact.

Prime Minister Abe explained, "Many infections have already been confirmed in downtown areas at night," and emphasized that people should not flock to other regions where the state of emergency is not applied, causing the spread of infection.

He further instructed relevant ministers to request businesses in the seven metropolitan areas including Tokyo, where the state of emergency has been declared, to operate on the principle of telecommuting and reduce the number of employees commuting by more than 70%.

Prime Minister Abe mentioned that experts believe that to end the current state of emergency within one month as planned, person-to-person contact must be reduced by at least 70% and up to 80%, and stressed, "We need even more cooperation from the public."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.