Japan Reports 25,000 New COVID-19 Cases... Highest for Two Consecutive Days

On the 18th, citizens wearing masks to prevent COVID-19 are walking on a crosswalk in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] The number of new COVID-19 cases in Japan has surpassed 25,000, marking the highest figure for two consecutive days.

On the 19th, NHK reported that as of 7 a.m., the number of new COVID-19 cases in Japan reached 25,156, an increase from 23,919 the previous day. The cumulative number of infections has exceeded 1.23 million. Notably, the number of severe patients receiving ventilator treatment has also risen for seven consecutive weeks, reaching 1,765.

Japan has decided to add seven metropolitan areas, including Shizuoka Prefecture, to the "state of emergency" list. From the following day, the total number of areas under the state of emergency, including Tokyo, will be 13. The number of regions under "priority measures to prevent spread" will also increase to 16. This means that 84% of the Japanese population is now included in special COVID-19 prevention zones.

The dominant analysis attributes the spread of COVID-19 to the Delta variant. In particular, new infections are explosively increasing among the younger population in Japan. Infectious disease experts in Japan already consider the current situation to be at a disaster level.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has met with business and economic organizations for two consecutive days, encouraging member companies to implement remote work.

Meanwhile, as public opinion criticizes the Japanese government for inadequate response to the COVID-19 spread, some civic groups have held protests demanding Prime Minister Suga's resignation.