The number of newly reported COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, where tens of thousands of athletes and their teams are competing in the Olympics, reported a record high for new cases registering- 3,177 infections- for the second day in a row on Wednesday, the metropolitan government said.
The previous day, the Japanese capital had seen 2,848 new cases. It is the third consecutive record day since the pandemic began. Tuesday’s figures were double of Monday’s. More than half of the newly infected people are in their 20s and 30s, local media reported.
Japan has avoided the devastating outbreaks suffered by other nations such as India, Indonesia, and the United States, but a fifth wave of the pandemic fueled by the delta variant is piling pressure on hospitals in the Olympic host city.
The central government was weighing declaring a virus state of emergency for all three prefectures, local media said, after governors from there three were reportedly looking to ask for the state of emergency amid a surge in infections driven by the delta variant.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has now asked the city’s hospitals and hotels to secure more beds for COVID-19 patients as the Japanese capital prepares for another infection surge during the Olympics.
Governor Koike has called on younger residents to get vaccinated, stay home if possible and follow virus safety measures.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says there is no need to cancel the remainder of the Tokyo Olympics despite another record jump in the number of daily COVID-19 infections because fewer people are arriving for the Games.
(With inputs from agencies)
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