TOKYO, Feb 16 (NNN-NHK) – Japan yesterday reported 965 new daily COVID-19 cases, with the death toll rising by 72 to a total of 7,055 people.
The country’s cumulative total of infection now stands at 418,458, with Tokyo, the hardest hit by the pandemic, contributing an additional 266 infections yesterday.
The Tokyo metropolitan government said, yesterday’s infection count, marked the ninth day that new cases remained below the 500-mark.
The latest figure in the capital of 14 million is also the first time the tally has dipped below 300 new daily cases, since Monday last week.
The capital’s cumulative total of infections since the outbreak of the pandemic here now stands at 106,771 people, the latest statistics last night showed.
According to health officials, there are currently 97 COVID-19-positive patients designated as being in a “serious condition.”
This is the first time since Jan 2, the number fell below 100 and is six less than the previous day, the Tokyo metropolitan government, said.
The country’s first COVID-19 vaccinations will begin here tomorrow, with front-line medical workers being given first priority for the jabs.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, formally approved the country’s first vaccine on Sunday, for people aged 16 or older.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine having already been successfully rolled-out in a number of countries, including Britain and the U.S., also factored into the panel’s approval of the inoculations administered in Japan.
In March, around 3.7 million health workers will begin receiving the vaccine, followed by 36 million people aged 65 or older, from April.
Following the elderly, those with preexisting conditions and those working at elderly care facilities will be next in line to be vaccinated, followed by the rest of the population.
Deals were inked by the Japanese government with Pfizer, AstraZeneca Plc. and Moderna Inc., to receive enough doses to vaccinate Japan’s population of 126 million, against the virus.– NNN-NHK
