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People wearing masks as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus visit Yanaka Ginza shopping street in Tokyo on August 1, 2020 (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP).
TOKYO – Japan’s daily Covid-19 count is on the rise, with at least 1,328 new cases on Saturday (Nov 7), the third day in a row for a national case load of more than 1,000.
These figures have not been seen since August and raise concerns about a third wave of infections amid the onset of colder temperatures.
More than 100 new clusters were discovered in the past week.
“We have to look at the situation more cautiously than before,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Friday.
The government’s top spokesman, Katsunobu Kato, added that the government “spared no effort” to curb the outbreak, although a suspension of the multi-million dollar Go To Travel campaign to resuscitate the ailing hotel industry does not appear to be on the cards.
While Japan has avoided explosive growth in cases elsewhere, it has been one of the worst hit in East Asia. It has also been, comparatively, one of the most laissez-faire in its response.
South Korea, which enacted new five-tier social distancing guidelines on Saturday, had 89 cases Saturday, bringing its total to 27,284.
China, where the coronavirus was first detected, reported no local transmissions on the mainland on Friday, with the 33 new cases imported. The account is 86,184.
Japan surpasses both countries, with 107,554 cases as of Saturday night. Tokyo, which accounts for nearly one in three cases, reported 294 new cases on Saturday, with several dating back to Halloween parties.
Hokkaido and Kanagawa recorded new daily highs, with 187 and 137 cases respectively.
Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki has requested that food and beverage outlets in Sapporo’s Susukino nightlife district reduce business hours.
Elsewhere, Osaka had 191 cases and Aichi, where Nagoya City is located, had 113 cases.
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