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Japan COVID cases jump above 150,000 for first time

Jul 20, 2022 (NHK) - People in Japan are seeing coronavirus cases spike higher than ever before with no peak in sight.

Wednesday's tally topped 150,000. Thirty of Japan's 47 prefectures saw record-breaking counts. This seventh wave is growing fast.

Tokyo reported more than 20,000 new cases. It's not a record, but it is the highest tally since February.

More and more children are falling ill. Doctors say it's becoming hard to find them hospital beds.

The government's top coronavirus advisor warns that things will get worse, before they get better.

Government advisory panel chief Omi Shigeru said, "Unfortunately, there is no indication yet of when the current wave of infections might peak. It's possible that the number of infections might end up double that of the previous wave."

Officials are not looking to re-introduce COVID restrictions. Instead, they're pushing medical workers and people at risk of becoming seriously ill to get a fourth shot.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump held talks at United Nations headquarters in New York in the early hours of September 23 Japan time, demonstrating the strength of the Japan-US alliance and confirming close cooperation on China ahead of an upcoming US-China summit.

Rail services across Chiba Prefecture remained severely disrupted on the morning of September 23, three days after Typhoon No. 25 brought torrential rain to eastern Japan, with extensive suspensions on the Uchibo, Sotobo, Sobu Main and Narita lines expected to continue throughout the final day of the Silver Week holiday. Although some services have resumed and flights at Tokyo's major airports are recovering, damage to railway tracks and embankments is preventing a return to normal operations in several areas.

Typhoon No. 25 has left seven people dead and five missing in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, with rescue operations continuing on September 23 as the extent of devastating landslides and flooding across the Kanto region becomes clearer, while widespread power outages, disrupted rail services and submerged neighborhoods hamper recovery efforts.

The road leading to Otemon Gate at Tokyo's Imperial Palace was flooded on September 22 after heavy rain from a typhoon caused water in the surrounding moat to overflow.

Japan came within two runs of producing one of international cricket's biggest upsets on September 22, pushing reigning T20 world champion India to the final ball before losing a rain-shortened match at Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.

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