TOKYO, Jan 19 (NNN-NHK) – Japan reported 32,197 daily COVID-19 cases across the country yesterday, exceeding the previous record of 25,992 daily cases in Aug last year, and logging a new all-time high, according to a tally based on data from local governments.
The Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed 5,185 new infection cases, the first time to top 5,000 in nearly five months since Aug 21, 2021. The number rose more than five times from 962 last Tuesday, recording the biggest count on Tuesdays ever.
The latest average of daily infection cases in seven-day period stood at 3,858.6 per day, quadrupling from the previous week, according to the metropolitan government.
Nearly half of the daily cases, or 2,452 people, have finished two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The number of severely ill COVID-19 patients under the metropolitan government’s criteria rose by two to seven, from the previous day as of 6:00 p.m. local time.
The capital’s government reported no new death cases related to the COVID-19.
Western Osaka prefecture reported 5,396 new cases yesterday, surpassing the count of 3,760 cases on Jan 16 and logging a new record.
The government is reportedly considering declaring a quasi-state of emergency for Tokyo and three nearby prefectures of Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa, with Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno saying that, new infections are spreading at an “unprecedented rate.”
“A number of prefectures have requested the measure, and we would like to decide on them speedily,” Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said yesterday.
Earlier this week, the governors of Tokyo and 12 other prefectures requested to be put under a quasi-state of emergency. The 12 prefectures included Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Aichi.
Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Okinawa have been under a quasi-state of emergency since earlier this month.– NNN-NHK
