TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo raised its coronavirus alert to the highest “red” level on Wednesday, alarmed by a recent surge in new daily cases to record highs, with Governor Yuriko Koike describing the situation in the Japanese capital as “quite severe ”
The resurgence of the virus in Tokyo could increase mounting pressure on policy makers to shore up the world’s No.3 economy, which analysts say will slow to its fastest pace in decades this fiscal year due to the pandemic.
“We are in a situation where we must issue warnings to citizens and businesses,” Koike said at a press conference, urging residents to refrain from unnecessary travel.
The infection rate in Tokyo is in the “red” stage, the highest of the four levels in the metropolis system, Koike said, citing analysis by health experts who warned earlier in the day that infections were increasing a little and “exceeded the peaks”.
He also vowed to step up tests to detect the virus using computers at universities.
“I understand that we are now in a pretty severe situation,” Koike said.
Health experts have noted that infections among youth and asymptomatic cases are on the rise in Tokyo.
Fearing that a second wave of infections will spread from the capital, local municipalities, opposition lawmakers and social media users have called on the central government to halt a major campaign to aid the “Go To” trip that aims to boost internal tourism.
Leaders in some rural cities say that, driven by the campaign, traveling in and out of high-risk regions like Tokyo can lead to widespread community broadcasts.
There were reports in the local media that Tokyo residents were asked to stay away from parents and relatives living in rural towns who reported fewer cases of coronavirus.
The pandemic in Japan will become a “man-made” disaster if the travel program continues, said Soichiro Miyashita, mayor of the city of Mutsu in Aomori prefecture.
But Japan’s economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said the government will proceed cautiously with the campaign, which includes discounts for purchases and food.
“Obviously we will consider the thoughts of many of our people, while monitoring the looming situation,” Nishimura, who directs the government’s coronavirus policy, told parliament.
The program, among the government’s main initiatives to stimulate economic activity and which will start this month, has also been criticized for costs, since it subcontracts back office work to a private contractor.
Koike urged the government to reconsider the timing of the campaign at the press conference.
RESURGENT VIRUS
Infections are also on the rise in other parts of Japan, with Osaka prefecture in the west reporting 61 new cases on Wednesday, the NHK broadcaster said, marking the highest number of daily cases there since April 20.
In Tokyo, daily cases of the virus exceeded 200 in four of the past seven days, hitting a record 243 last Friday, as tests conducted among nightclub workers in its red light districts showed an increase in infections among people in their 20s and 30s.
Koike reiterated that people should avoid restaurants that lack adequate infection control measures.
Health experts noted that Tokyo hospitals were overcrowded as the number of patients doubled from the previous week.
The latest group from Tokyo dates back to a theater with at least 37 cases in Shinjuku, a busy entertainment and home area of one of Asia’s largest red light districts, which has been at the center of a recent surge in infections.
Reports from Chang-Ran Kim and Ju-min Park; Richard Pullin and Himani Sarkar edition
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