Tokyo's daily COVID-19 cases drop after spike, concerns remain about nightspots

Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-03 23:00:51|Editor: huaxia
Video PlayerClose

TOKYO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo has spiked of late leading to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike issuing a "Tokyo alert" Tuesday, with all eyes on how the figures would shape up in the days ahead, especially in virus-hit nightspots, Tokyo metropolitan officials said Wednesday.

While the latest figures from the health ministry and metropolitan government on Wednesday confirmed there were 12 newly confirmed cases detected in the capital, less than the 34 infections confirmed a day earlier, officials and experts have said that Tokyoites need to remain on their guards especially in adult-oriented nighttime entertainments areas.

Koike said the alert is aimed at making residents aware of how much infections are spreading in Tokyo and while it does not mean plans will be changed to reopen social or economic activities, people are still requested to refrain from nighttime activities.

The alert is to warn people in the first instance. However, if the number of cases continues to rise, the Tokyo metropolitan government will once again request businesses and people to restrict their activities, Koike said.

The Tokyo metropolitan government said the alert was issued as 34 new infections were reported in the capital a day earlier, marking the highest since the state of emergency over the virus was completely lifted for Japan last week.

Tuesday's figure is also the first time since March 14 that daily infections have breached the 30 mark in the city of about 14 million people.

Since mid-April, the number of recorded daily COVID-19 cases in Tokyo had been decreasing, with a number of single-digit cases seen over a period of time through May, until an uptick increase recently.

Of the newly confirmed 34 cases Tuesday, infection routes of 12 of the cases were unknown, the Tokyo metropolitan government said.

It also said it was concerned over the number of people visiting bars and nightclubs in the capital, as around one-third of 90 cases detected in the last week had been linked to such nighttime establishments.

On Wednesday, local media reported that many of the new COVID-19 cases in the capital have been connected to the Kabukicho entertainment and red-light neighborhood in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward.

Professor Kaku Mitsuo, an infectious disease expert with Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, said nightlife areas are where the virus risk is the greatest.

Japan's minister for economic revitalization, Yasutoshi Nishimura, meanwhile, has said that experts have begun working with leaders in the entertainment industry to compile new guidelines for nightclub and bar owners. Enditem

KEY WORDS:
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020071410000000000000011102121391118061