New COVID-19 Cases in Japan Reach 1,500 Range... Tokyo Sees Increase Compared to Previous Week

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The number of new COVID-19 cases across Japan has decreased to the 1,500 range. However, the Tokyo area, the host city of the Olympics, is showing an increasing trend again.

According to NHK broadcasting on the 17th, the total number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases across Japan was 1,554 (as of 9 PM), including 452 in Tokyo.

The overall figure has decreased for five consecutive weeks compared to the same Thursday a week ago. However, in Tokyo, the number of new infections increased by 13 compared to last week, marking two consecutive days with more cases than the same day a week earlier.

The Japanese government held a COVID-19 task force meeting on the same day and decided to lift the state of emergency declared until the 20th in nine metropolitan areas, including Tokyo.

As of that day, Japan's cumulative confirmed cases totaled 781,526, and the death toll increased by 47 in one day to 14,344.