TOKYO, Nov 16 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s daily COVID-19 cases, yesterday, surpassed the threshold of 100,000, for the first time in two months, local media reported.
This came after the government scrapped COVID-19 border controls and introduced a domestic travel subsidy programme, in a bid to spur inbound and local tourism last month, Kyodo News reported.
As the nation braces for the eighth wave of infections, the figure recorded yesterday was the highest since Sept 14, when the daily caseload stood at 100,260, the report said.
Tokyo reported 11,196 cases, surpassing the 10,000 threshold for the first time in two months, while Hokkaido, the northernmost main island and a popular tourist destination, reported a record 10,906 cases.
The Japanese government, last month, lifted its restrictions on individual passengers, spontaneous trips, and daily entry caps.
It also launched the National Travel Discount programme, which provided subsidies of up to 11,000 yen (about 79 U.S. dollars) per person, for a maximum of seven nights.– NNN-NHK
