TOKYO, Jul 15 (NNN-NHK) – Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said yesterday that, “maximum caution” is necessary, amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Japan.
The prime minister’s remarks were made, as the government confirmed 97,788 new infections nationwide, yesterday.
The government’s COVID-19 panel of experts warned yesterday that, the nation’s capital may see an explosive increase in infections, that has never been experienced before.
They said, if the pace of transmission continues at the current rate, the daily tally in Tokyo will exceed 23,000 after a week, surpassing the peak of the sixth wave. The number could top the 53,000-mark after two weeks, they said.
Tokyo reported 16,662 new cases yesterday.
They raised Tokyo’s COVID-19 alert level to the highest, on the four-tier system. It’s the first time since Apr that the alert level has been raised to the highest level.
Kishida said, the government will accelerate the vaccination drive, with about eight million health care and nursing care workers targeted for fourth shots.
The experts, meanwhile, said, it is important for young people to get a third dose of vaccine.
Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said yesterday that, the occupancy rate of hospital beds has been rising.
A total of more than 10 million people have been confirmed infected with COVID-19, since the outbreak of the pandemic, and a total of 31,547 people have died from the virus, according to official figures yesterday.– NNN-NHK
