Japan's COVID-19 cases hit record high again... "10,000 daily cases in Tokyo expected in 2 weeks"

Tokyo Reports Over 5,000 Confirmed Cases for the First Time

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The daily number of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, where the Tokyo Olympics are being held, continues to break records. In particular, since the opening of the Olympics, Japan's daily number of confirmed cases has increased by about four times, leading to criticism of a "bubble quarantine collapse."

According to NHK on the 6th, the previous day's daily COVID-19 cases in Tokyo reached 5,042. This was the first time the daily cases exceeded 5,000, breaking the previous record of 4,166 in just one day. On the 23rd of last month, when the Olympics opened, Tokyo's daily cases were 1,359, meaning a 3.7-fold increase since the opening. On that day, the total number of COVID-19 cases across Japan was recorded at 15,263.

Moreover, as COVID-19 cases continue to emerge daily within the Tokyo Olympic Village, criticism of the "bubble quarantine collapse" has surfaced. On this day, 31 new COVID-19 cases were identified among Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic officials, bringing the cumulative total to 353. Initially, the Olympic Organizing Committee had promoted "bubble quarantine," meaning a thorough separation between locals and Olympic personnel as if encasing them in a bubble.

With the explosive increase in COVID-19 cases, experts are calling for stronger measures than before. Takao Omagari, Director of the International Infectious Diseases Center at Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine, warned, "There are projections that daily cases in Tokyo alone could reach 10,000 in two weeks," adding, "We will face a crisis where providing adequate medical services will become impossible." The Yomiuri Shimbun also pointed out that voluntary movement restrictions and restaurant operating hour limits are no longer sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

However, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed that measures beyond the current level are unnecessary, showing a perception detached from experts. In a press conference, Prime Minister Suga stated, "We will devise measures while raising awareness about COVID-19," and announced that a nationwide state of emergency would not be declared.

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