Tokyo on Emergency Alert with 107 New Cases in One Day: "Nearly Half Linked to Entertainment Venues"

NHK "High Possibility of Japanese Government Declaring a State of Emergency"

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, Japan, has exceeded 100 per day for the first time in two months. In particular, infections have appeared mainly in nightlife districts.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] The number of new COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, Japan, has exceeded 100 per day for the first time in two months. Infections have particularly appeared around nightlife districts.

According to NHK's report on the 2nd, Tokyo confirmed 107 new COVID-19 cases that day. This is the first time in two months since May 2 (154 cases) that Tokyo has recorded daily new cases in the 100s.

Notably, nearly half of these cases were among employees and patrons of entertainment establishments in nightlife areas such as Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. These individuals are mainly young people in their 20s and 30s.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government stated that the increase in numbers reflects the results of proactive infection testing conducted on nightlife business workers and urged people to refrain from going out to late-night entertainment districts.

It is reported that infections in Tokyo's nightlife districts are spreading to nearby local governments such as Kanagawa and Saitama.

The number of new infections in Tokyo has consistently been over 50 for the past week.

Given the situation, some voices are calling for the re-declaration of a state of emergency, which was lifted on May 25.

NHK reported that as cases surge mainly in Tokyo, the Japanese government is increasingly likely to re-issue a state of emergency declaration.

Meanwhile, as of the 1st, Japan's cumulative COVID-19 cases stand at 19,608, with a total of 989 deaths.