Society

Japan's daily virus infections top 980, record for 2nd day

Jul 24 (Kyodo) - Japan reported on Thursday more than 980 new daily coronavirus infections, marking a record for a second straight day in a resurgence since the government lifted a state of emergency about two months ago.

The figure brings the nationwide tally to more than 28,900, including some 700 cases from the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama in February, with the death toll reaching 1,005.

Concerns over the worsening outbreak have grown stronger in Japan as a four-day holiday began Thursday, the day after the government's domestic travel subsidy campaign was launched.

On Wednesday, Japan reported 795 new daily virus infections, exceeding the previous single-day high set in April.

The record increase in daily infections comes as the Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed a record 366 daily cases on Thursday, surpassing the previous high of 293 cases confirmed last Friday and topping the 300 mark for the first time.

In Tokyo, people in their 20s and 30s account for about 60 percent of total infections but Koike said the virus infections are spreading to those in their 40s and 50s while the contagion is also spreading to the Tama district, western Tokyo, from the central area.

Osaka Prefecture in western Japan on Thursday reported a total of 104 new infections, the second-largest figure following 121 cases on Wednesday, while Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura asked local residents to avoid nightlife establishments which have no appropriate measures against the virus.

Hyogo Prefecture, west of Osaka, issued its original virus alert Thursday that the prefecture has entered "the phase of increasing infections" after confirming 35 new cases Thursday, its largest number of daily cases since the state of emergency was lifted for the prefecture.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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