Japan's COVID-19 Cumulative Deaths Reach 1,000... Spread Continues

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Japan shows no signs of subsiding, NHK reported on the 20th that the number of COVID-19 deaths increased by one, reaching a cumulative total of 1,000.

According to the report, Tokyo announced that one of the COVID-19 infected patients died on that day. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Japan was 999 until the previous day, including 13 deaths among passengers of the cruise ship "Diamond Princess," which was docked in Yokohama and experienced a mass infection outbreak in February.

So far, the number of COVID-19 deaths by prefecture (metropolitan government) is 327 in Tokyo, 102 in Hokkaido, 98 in Kanagawa Prefecture, and 86 in Osaka Prefecture, among others.

Within Japan, COVID-19 has recently shown signs of re-spreading. On that day, Tokyo reported 168 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. The daily confirmed cases in Tokyo had recorded the high 200s for three consecutive days from the 16th to the 18th, then decreased to the 100s for two consecutive days, with 188 cases the day before. The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tokyo is 9,579.

In Osaka, the number of confirmed cases is increasing mainly among young people. Ichiro Matsui, Mayor of Osaka, pointed out, "The positivity rate is very high, averaging about 20%. Most are young customers using stores or employees working there," and added, "I believe the fading fear of the virus among young people is leading to the spread."

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