Japan's COVID-19 Spread Slows... Moves Toward Lifting State of Emergency

740 Daily COVID-19 Cases Nationwide
Lowest Level in Three and a Half Months

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in Japan, which peaked in the middle of winter this January, is noticeably decreasing as spring approaches.

According to NHK on the 23rd, the total number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases across Japan on the previous day (22nd) was 740, including 178 in Tokyo.

This is the lowest Monday count since November 9 last year (782 cases), reflecting the tendency for fewer cases to be reported on Mondays due to reduced testing ahead of the weekend, marking about three and a half months of decline.

As a result, Japan's cumulative confirmed cases reached 427,087, with deaths increasing by 56 to a total of 7,562.

New COVID-19 cases in Japan surged explosively as the third wave began ahead of last winter.

After daily new cases first rose to the 2,000 range on November 18 last year, the number surpassed 7,800 on January 8 this year, when a state of emergency was declared in Tokyo and other areas, setting a record high.

Since then, thanks to the effects of the state of emergency measures aimed at reducing population movement and seasonal factors, new cases have declined, dropping to the 1,000 range per day starting from the 7th of this month.

As of the 22nd of this month, the seven-day average of daily new cases was 1,228, about one-fifth of the figure a month ago (7-day average of 5,519).

With the significant decrease in new cases, some regions among the 10 prefectures nationwide, including Tokyo, where the state of emergency has been extended until the 7th of next month, are showing signs of requesting an early lifting of the emergency from the central government.

Among Japan's 47 prefectures, a state of emergency is currently in effect in four metropolitan areas in the capital region?Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba?as well as six other regions: Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Aichi, Gifu, and Fukuoka.

The Asahi Shimbun reported that a plan is being considered to lift the state of emergency from next month first in the six regions excluding the four in the capital region.

The Japanese government is expected to hold a task force meeting as early as the 26th to decide on the early lifting of the emergency in some areas.

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