Dec 02 (NHK) - The number of seriously ill patients with COVID-19 across Japan hit 472 on Monday. That's a new record high, and the health minister says it's another sign the situation is growing more serious.
Health Minister Tamura Norihisa said, "The number of people in serious condition tends to lag behind new cases. So the fact that serious ones have increased to nearly 500 means we're facing a sense of crisis."
Tamura is also urging local governments to secure enough hospital beds.
He says COVID19 patients who don't require hospitalization should be quarantined in designated facilities, including hotels to free up resources.
The biggest hot spot is Tokyo. More than a quarter of total cases nationwide have been confirmed in the capital. Officials reported over 370 cases on Tuesday in the city of 14 million.
Metropolitan government officials want local hospitals to increase the number of beds for seriously ill patients from 150 to 200 to meet the growing demand.
