Society

Serious coronavirus cases rising in Japan

Feb 15 (NHK) - New coronavirus infections are declining in many parts of Japan, but serious cases are increasing nationwide.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday reported 10,334 new cases, for a 6th straight day of week-on-week decline.

Seriously ill patients on ventilators or ECMO heart-lung machines in the capital rose by 9 from Sunday to 74.

The number of cases deemed serious nationwide was nearly 1,400 on Monday, the most this year, amid high hospital occupancy rates.

Quasi-emergency measures are set to expire in 21 prefectures next Sunday, and some are considering extending them.

The central prefecture of Shizuoka is one of them. Its Governor Kawakatsu Heita announced on Monday that he is asking the central government to extend the period.

Kawakatsu said, "We have to curb the spread of infections while the quasi-emergency measures are in effect, so that we can easily hold important events such as graduation and entrance ceremonies around the start of the new fiscal year."

Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi told reporters that he wants to extend the current quasi-emergency measures, but did not make clear whether he would request a state of emergency. He earlier suggested that it be considered.

Osaka reported nearly 8,000 new cases on Monday.

The number of seriously ill patients was 203, up 12 from Sunday.

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