Daily COVID-19 Cases in Japan Reach 1,536... Over 1,000 Cases Reported for Four Consecutive Days

Local Governments Increase Requests for Closures of Restaurants and Karaoke Bars

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly spreads in Japan, local governments are increasingly requesting pubs and karaoke rooms to close temporarily, NHK reported on the 2nd.

According to the report, the total number of new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Japan the previous day was 1,536. As a result, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 712 passengers from the cruise ship Diamond Princess, rose to 38,637.

Japan's daily confirmed cases set record highs for three consecutive days with 1,264 on the 29th, 1,301 on the 30th, and 1,580 on the 31st of last month.

On the 1st of this month, the number of confirmed cases was 1,536, slightly down from 1,580 the day before, but the number of new cases has remained in the thousands for four consecutive days.

In Tokyo, 472 new cases were confirmed the previous day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 13,163.

Other prefectures such as Osaka (195), Aichi (181), and Fukuoka (121) also reported new cases in the hundreds.

Accordingly, local governments are requesting pubs and karaoke rooms operating in busy districts to either close temporarily or shorten their business hours.

Tokyo, where the spread of COVID-19 is particularly prominent, announced at the end of last month that starting from the 3rd, it will request restaurants serving alcohol (pubs) and karaoke rooms to shorten their business hours.

Osaka Prefecture also plans to request pubs in busy districts of Osaka City to either close temporarily or shorten business hours starting from the 5th.

Aichi Prefecture announced the previous day that from the 5th, it will request restaurants serving alcohol and karaoke rooms in busy districts of Nagoya City to either close temporarily or shorten business hours.

Chiba Prefecture, which reported a record high of 73 confirmed cases the previous day, requested people to refrain from dining gatherings with five or more participants on the 5th and 6th.