Nation braces as record virus cases reported across Japan

Atotal of 367 new coronavirus infections were reported in Tokyo on July 30, marking a daily record. The Tokyo metropolitan government is to request dining establishments and karaoke bars to close by 10 p.m. from Aug. 3 through the end of the month because group dining has become a major transmission route for infections.

The capital’s previous single-day record was 366 on July 23.

The metropolitan government is planning to give establishments that comply with the closure request about ¥200,000 as compensation.

The scope of the requests will extend to all dining establishments.

From April 11, immediately after the central government declared a state of emergency, the metropolitan government asked companies in a wide range of industries to suspend operations. It requested restaurants to shorten nighttime hours and offered a subsidy of up to ¥1 million. The metropolitan government has gradually eased its requests since May 25, when the state of emergency was lifted.

The daily number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases reported in Japan surpassed the 1,000 threshold for the first time on July 29, reaching a record 1,260, far exceeding the previous peak of 981 on July 23 and 28.

However, the numbers of deaths and those in serious condition were far lower than during the peak period in April and May.

Nine prefectures, including Osaka and Aichi, marked record figures.

Two people tested positive on July 29 in Iwate Prefecture, which had had no confirmed coronavirus cases until that day.

Government officials are feeling hamstrung by an inability to trace the transmission routes for a large number of cases as infections spread.

This appears to be linked to the increasing number of infections among young people, whose contacts are difficult to determine.

In Tokyo, 162 of the 250 cases confirmed on July 29 could not be traced. According to the metropolitan government, younger age groups — those in their 20s and 30s — accounted for about 60% of the infections, while just 20% were those in their 40s or 50s.

Meanwhile, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura on July 28 requested that residents refrain from attending events and going out drinking with five or more people, among other measures, to combat the virus’ spread.

“People in their 20s and 30s are going out to nightlife spots in the city and spreading the virus around while eating out, and then the virus makes its way through them to older people and others,” Yoshimura said.

If infection cases continue to rise, then any establishment that sees a cluster outbreak after failing to take preventive measures will be asked to close.