Japan's Daily COVID-19 Cases Exceed 4,000 for 3 Consecutive Days... Cumulative Total Surpasses 520,000

Enhanced Quarantine Measures Expanded to 10 Metropolitan Autonomous Regions Nationwide

On the 13th, citizens wearing masks are crossing the crosswalk near Osaka Station. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Japan's daily new COVID-19 cases have exceeded 4,000 for three consecutive days. The cumulative number of confirmed cases has surpassed 520,000, and the death toll is approaching 10,000.

According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK as of 7:20 PM on the 16th, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Japan was recorded at 4,532. This marks three consecutive days of exceeding 4,000 cases since the 14th. Consequently, Japan's cumulative confirmed cases reached 526,829. The death toll increased by 46, bringing the total to 9,605.

In Osaka Prefecture, where infections have been rapidly increasing recently, 1,209 new cases were reported. Osaka's new infections have exceeded 1,000 for four consecutive days. It is reported that Osaka is facing a shortage of hospital beds to accommodate confirmed cases and a lack of available nurses.

As infections have risen again after the state of emergency was lifted, the Japanese government is expanding quarantine measures. For four metropolitan areas?Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Aichi Prefecture?the government has decided to apply strengthened quarantine measures called 'Priority Measures to Prevent Spread' from the 20th of this month until the 11th of next month. Currently, these measures are only implemented in Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, and Okinawa Prefecture, but they will be expanded to 10 metropolitan areas nationwide.

Health authorities have requested that regions subject to the priority measures shorten restaurant operating hours (closing by 8 PM), restrict various event gatherings, and refrain from unnecessary outings. If restaurants do not comply with the request to shorten operating hours, an order to shorten hours can be issued. If they still do not comply, fines may be imposed.