TOKYO, July 28 (NNN-NHK) – The Tokyo metropolitan government, said that, 131 new daily COVID-19 cases had been detected in the capital, yesterday, marking the 19th straight day that more than 100 new daily infections had been confirmed.
The latest single-day tally, which edged below the 200-mark for the first time in seven days, compares to 239 COVID-19 cases recorded on Sunday, the metropolitan government said.
New cases of the virus in July topped the 5,000-mark in the capital till yesterday, the latest data showed, accounting for about 45 percent of Tokyo’s cumulative total of 11,345 cases and one-third of the nation’s total, as concerns have risen about the record pace of the virus’ spread in the city of 14 million.
Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike, urged Tokyo residents to essentially stay at home, during the four-day weekend through Sunday, by asking Tokyoites to refrain from making unnecessary trips outside, following Thursday’s record 366 COVID-19 cases, the first time infections had topped 300.
The long weekend, just passed, coincided with the launch of the government-backed “Go To Travel” campaign, aimed at bolstering domestic travel and the tourism industry, by offering travellers subsidies on transportation and accommodation, among other incentives.
Tokyo, the epicentre of the nation’s COVID-19 outbreak, was abruptly cut from the campaign, with Tokyo residents and trips to and from Tokyo made ineligible for the subsidies, owing to the capital’s virus crisis.
Of the 131 new COVID-19 cases reported yesterday, the metropolitan government said, 79 people testing positive were in their 20’s and 30’s, accounting for around 60 percent of the total.
Those in their 40’s and 50’s totalled 34 people or about 26 percent of the total. Of those newly infected, the infection route is known in 40 percent of the cases and unknown in 60 percent, the latest figure showed.
Nationwide, Japan confirmed 583 new infections yesterday, bringing the nation’s cumulative total to 31,249 cases, not including those connected to a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama in Feb.
The death toll currently stands at 999, according to the figures from the heath ministry and local authorities.
Behind Tokyo, Osaka’s cases rose by 87 on Monday, bringing its cumulative total to 3,375 infections, while Kanagawa Prefecture added 14 cases to reach 2,251.
Saitama Prefecture recorded 23 new infections, bringing its total to 2,088, while Chiba Prefecture’s total stood at 1,490 cases, after 24 new cases were reported yesterday, according to the latest figures yesterday evening.– NNN-NHK
