TOKYO, Dec 31 (NNN-NHK) – Japan confirmed 3,841 new daily COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the nation’s cumulative total to 231,223 infections, not including those related to a cruise ship quarantined here earlier this year, with Tokyo’s strained medical system “entering a critical stage,” according to experts.
As the virus’ resurgence continues nationwide, the Tokyo metropolitan government yesterday reported 944 new cases, marking the second-highest daily tally, following a record 949 infections reported on Saturday.
The latest figure saw the capital’s cumulative total pushed up to 58,840 infections, with 85 patients in hospital designated as being “seriously ill.”
The latest figures come as Tokyo’s medical system is becoming increasingly strained owing to increasing instances of infections and experts, according to public broadcaster NHK, have warned that the situation is “entering a critical stage” due to the virus’ surge.
Experts said, the medical system in the city of 14 million “may collapse, if the situation continues.”
The warning follows a panel of experts and Tokyo metropolitan government officials, meeting yesterday on the pandemic. They decided to keep the medical system at the highest alert level, on its four tier scale.
Along with noting “daily average of confirmed cases over a week in Tokyo jumped for the third consecutive time,” the experts “stressed the urgent need to take stronger steps, to prevent the spread of the virus,”
The experts also warned, if the rate of hospitalisation stays at the current level, the “4,000 beds that the Tokyo government asked hospitals to secure for patients will be fully occupied, within two weeks.”
As for other hard-hit regions in Japan, the western prefecture of Osaka reported 307 new cases, bringing its overall tally to 29,686 infections, while Tokyo’s neighbouring prefecture of Kanagawa, confirmed 432 new cases to total 20,674 infections.
The central prefecture of Aichi, meanwhile, reported 294 new infections, bringing its caseload to 16,333, while Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, confirmed an additional 133 new daily infections to total 13,275 cases.
According to the latest statistics, the national death toll currently stands at a total of 3,455 people.– NNN-NHK
