Society

Japan's total number of coronavirus cases tops 50,000

Aug 11 (Japan Times) - The cumulative total of COVD-19 infections in Japan surpassed 50,000 on Monday, including about 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February.

It was Aug. 3 that the nationwide total reached 40,000, and it took only seven days to add another 10,000.

On Monday, at least 510 people newly tested positive for the virus across the country.

Among Japan's 47 prefectures, Tokyo confirmed 197 new infections on Monday, the first drop under 200 since July 27 when 131 cases were reported, the metropolitan government said.

The daily figures have been running high in Tokyo since late July and hit a daily record of 472 on Aug. 1. On Sunday, the daily cases stood at 331.

Monday's 197 cases were confirmed after 3,243 tests were conducted Friday, the metropolitan government said. It brings the city's total infections to 16,064.

Of Monday's total, 65 people were in their 20s and 45 in their 30s, together making up 56 percent, according to the metropolitan government. Of the rest, 34 people were in their 40s, 22 in their 50s, eight in the 10-19 age bracket, seven in their 70s, six under 10, five in their 60s and five in their 80s.

The number of seriously ill coronavirus patients in Tokyo stood at 24, up by one from Sunday.

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