The Tokyo metropolitan government is expected to report Thursday a single-day record of over 280 new cases of the novel coronavirus, Gov. Yuriko Koike said, a day after the capital raised its infection alert to the highest level.
Koike said the figure, breaking the previous record of 243 cases set Friday, reflects a rise in the number of daily tests conducted in the capital to over 4,000, also a new high.
The daily figures reflect the most recent totals reported by health authorities and medical institutions in the capital.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks to reporters at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building on July 16, 2020. (Kyodo)
The number of new infections in Tokyo has been on an uptrend since a state of emergency was completely lifted May 25. Japan as a whole confirmed 454 new infections on Wednesday, the highest since the lifting.
The metropolitan government has urged residents to avoid nonessential travel to other prefectures and refrain from visiting nightlife and dining establishments that have not taken sufficient measures to prevent infections.
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