TOKYO: The Japanese capital of Tokyo posted the highest coronavirus alert level on Thursday with its daily tally of new cases set for a record high of more than 500, and its governor warned of much worse unless action is taken.
The nationwide tally also hit a new high of 2,201 on Wednesday, according to state broadcaster NHK.
But it is the spread of the virus in the metropolis of Tokyo, which hopes to stage a re-scheduled Olympic Games next year, that causes the most alarm.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told a late Wednesday news program that the metropolitan government would take steps to combat the coronavirus 鈥渨ith the view that infections could reach 1,000 cases a day.鈥�
The daily tally of new infections in Tokyo were set to hit 534 cases on Thursday, broadcaster TBS reported, surpassing a record 493 the previous day. Latest official figures from Tokyo are announced at 0600 GMT.
The city鈥檚 highest alert level on a scale of four indicates that 鈥渋nfections are spreading鈥� compared with the previous level of 鈥渋nfections appear to be spreading.鈥�
With new record tallies across Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the government was looking to tighten guidelines on eating out, such as by limiting its subsidized 鈥淕o To Eat鈥� initiative to parties of up to four.
But authorities stopped short of announcing a state of emergency or any drastic steps to restrict the movement of people, mindful of the economic impact.
鈥淚 ask citizens once again to be vigilant about taking basic precautions,鈥� Suga told reporters, stressing the risk of infections particularly at eateries.
鈥淲e ask that people engage in quiet, masked, dining. I will do the same starting today,鈥� he said.
For medical preparedness 鈥� a separate category 鈥� Tokyo kept its alert at the second-highest level, indicating a need to boost hospital capacity but a notch below critical levels.