Tokyo Metropolis in Japan Surpasses 2,000 New COVID-19 Cases... Highest Record Set for Two Consecutive Days

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is explosively increasing in Japan.

According to NHK on the 7th, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Tokyo exceeded 2,000 for the first time. This broke the record for two consecutive days, following 1,591 cases the previous day.

As of the previous day, the total number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide reached 6,001, also surpassing 6,000 for the first time. Consequently, the cumulative number of confirmed cases rose to 260,150.

The death toll increased by 65, reaching 3,834.

This is the first time since the spread of COVID-19 that Japan's daily new cases have exceeded 6,000.

Following the report of 4,914 new cases the previous day, the daily record was broken for two consecutive days.

Among this, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to declare a state of emergency in the afternoon.

The state of emergency is expected to be enforced for one month from the 8th to the 7th of next month, targeting four metropolitan areas: Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, and Chiba prefectures. This is the second state of emergency declaration following the one from April to May last year.

The Japanese government plans to focus on shortening business hours of restaurants and similar establishments to 8 p.m., as it considers that COVID-19 mainly spreads through social gatherings.

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