Japan Reports 25,483 New COVID-19 Cases... Record High Imminent

A pedestrian wearing a mask to prevent the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) passes in front of a public notice board warning about the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant on the streets of Tokyo, the capital of Japan. (Photo by AP, Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] In Japan, which has entered the 6th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of new daily confirmed cases is approaching record highs day after day.

According to the local public broadcaster NHK's tally on the 16th, 25,483 new cases were confirmed nationwide by 6:30 PM. The number of new cases on this day was close to the record high of 25,992 cases set on August 20 last year during the 5th wave. Since entering the 20,000 range on the 14th, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Japan reached 25,793 on the 15th.

Due to the highly contagious Omicron variant, new cases have surged sharply since the beginning of the new year. New cases, which were in the 500s on the 1st, rose to the 1,000s within three days, and by the 12th, eight days later, surged to 13,244. Compared to the 1st, this represents a 48-fold increase in 15 days.

Looking at the new infections confirmed on the 16th by the 47 prefectures (都道府縣, metropolitan administrative divisions) nationwide, Tokyo had the highest number with 4,172 cases. Osaka (3,760), Hyogo (1,343), Hiroshima (1,280), and four other regions recorded their highest-ever numbers on this day. No deaths were reported on this day, and the number of severe cases increased by 2 in one day to 235.