Japan COVID-19 Cases at 989... Clear Decline One Week Before Emergency Declaration Deadline

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] In Japan, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has rapidly decreased one week before the expiration of the state of emergency enacted as a countermeasure against COVID-19.

According to NHK on the 15th, the total number of newly confirmed infections across Japan yesterday was 989, including 239 in Tokyo. It is the first time in six days that Japan's daily new confirmed cases have fallen below 1,000, and it is the first Sunday under 1,000 cases in two weeks since the 28th of last month (999 cases).

The cumulative number of confirmed cases increased to 448,624, and the death toll rose by 21 to a total of 8,607.

In Japan, the third wave began last winter, causing a rapid increase in new infections.

After daily new confirmed cases reached the 2,000 range on November 18 last year, they rose to the 7,800 range on January 8 this year.

Since then, thanks to the effect of the state of emergency and seasonal factors, the trend has turned downward.

Since daily new confirmed cases dropped to the 1,000 range on the 7th of last month, there have been occasional days with fewer than 1,000 cases.

With the number of new confirmed cases clearly decreasing, the state of emergency, which was enacted for one month starting January 8 in four metropolitan areas including Tokyo and extended twice, is expected to be lifted when it expires on the 21st.

The Japanese government plans to hold a COVID-19 countermeasures headquarters meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the 18th to decide whether to lift the state of emergency declared in the metropolitan area.

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