'Travel Promotion' Campaign Proceeds Without Tokyo
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Japan has exceeded 600 for the first time in three months. Since daily confirmed case statistics are announced at the local government level, the number of new confirmed cases reported on this day is expected to increase.
According to NHK's tally on the 16th (as of 8 p.m.), a total of 610 new infections were reported nationwide from each metropolitan government and airport quarantine station, including 286 in Tokyo and 66 in Osaka.
This is the first time in 96 days since April 11, when the highest number during the state of emergency was recorded (720 cases), that Japan's daily new confirmed cases have exceeded 600. It is the third highest number of new confirmed cases ever recorded.
The number of new confirmed cases in Tokyo, the area where the infection is spreading, was highest at 243 on the 10th, but this record was broken on this day. In the past week up to this day, Tokyo has reported about 1,360 COVID-19 cases. Japan's cumulative confirmed cases have reached 24,357, with a total of 998 deaths.
The Japanese government lifted the first state of emergency for COVID-19 response on May 25. After the state of emergency was lifted, Japan's daily new confirmed cases once dropped to the 20-30 range, but surged again after rising to the 100 range in early this month.
The Japanese government and Tokyo Metropolitan Government explain that the recent increase in confirmed cases is due to the increased number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. As of the 12th, the number of daily PCR tests in Japan was 5,012.
However, the Japanese government is drawing a line on the possibility of declaring a second state of emergency due to the rapid increase in new confirmed cases. At a press conference in the afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese government spokesperson, responded to a question about the possibility of declaring a state of emergency by saying, "Although the number of hospitalized patients is increasing, we recognize that the medical system is not under pressure," and expressed a negative view, stating that "a comprehensive judgment must be made considering factors other than the number of new confirmed cases."
Meanwhile, to support the regional tourism industry severely affected by the state of emergency, the Japanese government plans to implement the 'Go To Travel' campaign, which was included in the emergency economic measures decided in April, in 46 prefectures excluding Tokyo from the 22nd. However, with more than 600 new confirmed cases reported nationwide on this day, controversy is expected to grow over pushing forward a travel promotion campaign that could spread COVID-19.
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