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TOKYO – New cases of the coronavirus reached 1,308 in Tokyo on Thursday, a six-month high, amid fears of a possible dramatic increase that could flood hospitals during the Olympics that begin in eight days.
Tokyo is under a fourth state of emergency, which began on Monday and is forcing restaurants and bars to close early and not to serve alcohol during the Olympics, which begin on July 23.
Thursday’s tally is the highest since 1,485 were recorded on Jan.21, when Japan was under an earlier state of emergency, and is also a jump from Wednesday’s 1,149.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike noted that the largest increase in severe cases and hospitalizations was among people in their 50s and under who are largely unvaccinated. She expressed concern about the impact on the medical system as infections are propelled by the more contagious delta strain of the virus.
“We need to stay alert,” Koike said, urging people to minimize exits and stick to basic anti-infective measures “to overcome this very difficult situation.”
New daily cases have steadily increased since mid-June and experts say they could reach several thousand during the Games.
The slow pace of the vaccination rollout in Japan has improved dramatically since May as the government desperately strives to improve the vaccination rate ahead of the Olympics, but slows again due to the shortage of imported vaccines. The latest government data shows that only 19.7% of the population has been fully immunized.
Due to the state of emergency in Tokyo and fears of accelerating infections during the Games, organizers last week decided to ban fans from most events except one limited number in outlying areas.
Overall, Japan has recorded around 828,000 confirmed cases and 15,000 deaths.
Dr Masataka Inokuchi, medical adviser to a Tokyo Metropolitan Government panel, said Thursday he feared young people could celebrate and party because of the Olympics, further accelerating infections.
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