Tokyo, Japan Reports Record 143 New COVID-19 Cases...Government Urged to Take Action (Update)

New COVID-19 Cases in Thailand Exceed 100... No Additional Cases in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
Switzerland Nears 1,000 New Cases, Total Surpasses 20,000

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Japan surges, calls for decisive action from the central government are growing louder.

On the 5th, NHK reported, citing Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials, that there were 143 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. This figure surpasses the 118 cases reported on the 4th. Consequently, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the Tokyo area has exceeded 1,000, reaching 1,034.

With the rising number of confirmed cases, voices calling for decisive measures such as the central government's declaration of a state of emergency are increasing. Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, appeared on an NHK discussion program that day and urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency, stating, "The government's decisive action is required."

Tokyo is preparing for a state of emergency. Governor Koike explained that based on the law, if a state of emergency is declared, measures stronger than requests for voluntary restraint from going out can be implemented.

In Thailand, the number of new confirmed cases has also exceeded 100. According to local Thai media, the Ministry of Public Health announced that 102 new COVID-19 infections were recorded that day, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 2,169. The death toll also increased by three.

On the other hand, neighboring Vietnam maintained its cumulative confirmed cases at 240, and Cambodia reported no new confirmed cases for the second consecutive day as of the 3rd, with a total of 114 cases. Laos has reportedly had no new COVID-19 infections for three consecutive days as of the 4th.

Meanwhile, Switzerland saw nearly 1,000 new confirmed cases, pushing the cumulative total beyond 20,000. As of 8 a.m. local time on the 4th, Switzerland's cumulative confirmed cases stood at 20,278, an increase of 975 from the 3rd. Recently, Switzerland has been experiencing around 1,000 new cases daily. The cumulative death toll is 540, with the average age of the deceased being 83. Switzerland is conducting COVID-19 testing primarily focused on the elderly population.

Daniel Koch, Head of the Infectious Diseases Division at the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, stated, "COVID-19 has not yet reached its peak in Switzerland," and assessed that "it is too early to ease response measures."

[Image source=Yonhap News]