Health experts put Tokyo on the highest alert for coronavirus infections on Wednesday, alarmed by a recent spike in cases to record levels, while the governor of the Japanese capital said the situation was "rather severe".
The resurgence of the virus in Tokyo could add to the growing pressure on policymakers to shore up the world's No.3 economy, which analysts say is set to shrink at its fastest pace in decades this fiscal year due to the pandemic.
"It is a fact that the number of patients is going up quite a bit and exceeding peaks," said Norio Ohmagari, director of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine Hospital, noting that the infection rate in Tokyo was at stage "red" - the highest of four levels in the metropolis' system.
Infections among young people and asymptomatic cases are rising, Ohmagari said at a meeting with Tokyo officials.
Governor Yuriko Koike repeated her calls for Tokyo residents to be vigilant, saying: "My understanding is that we're in a rather severe situation now."
The Tokyo government will respond accordingly to the expert views, Koike said, ahead of a media conference later in the day.
Fearing a second wave of infections spreading from the capital, local municipalities and opposition lawmakers also urged the central government to suspend a major "Go To" travel aid campaign that aims to boost domestic tourism.
Leaders of some rural towns say that driven by the campaign, travel in and out of high-risk regions like Tokyo may lead to widespread community transmissions.
The pandemic in Japan will turn into a "man-made" disaster should the travel programme go ahead, Soichiro Miyashita, mayor of the city of Mutsu in Aomori Prefecture, has cautioned.
But Japan's economy minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, said the government will cautiously proceed with the campaign, which includes discounts for shopping and food.
"Obviously we will consider the thoughts of many of our people, while monitoring the situation ahead," Nishimura, who leads the government's coronavirus policy, told parliament.
The programme, among the government's top initiatives to stimulate economic activity and set to start this month, has also come under fire over costs as it subcontracts back-office work to a private contractor.
In Tokyo, daily virus cases exceeded 200 in four of the past seven days, touching an all-time high of 243 last Friday as testing among nightclub workers in its red-light districts showed rising infections among people in their 20s and 30s.
Governor Koike reiterated that people should avoid restaurants that lack proper infection control measures.
Health experts noted Tokyo hospitals were getting crowded as the number of patients doubled from the previous week.
Tokyo's latest cluster has been traced to a theatre with at least 37 cases in Shinjuku, a busy entertainment area and home to one of Asia's biggest red-light districts which has been the centre of a recent spike in infections.
Reuters
Wed Jul 15 2020
edestrians wearing masks make their way at a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan, January 28, 2020 via REUTERS
Isytihar harta: Tun M antara individu yang disiasat SPRM
Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad adalah antara individu yang disiasat SPRM berhubung isu pengisytiharan harta.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Bakal calon disaran isi borang, buat semakan awal - SPR
Bakal calon yang ingin bertanding dalam PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu disaran mengisi borang dan membuat semakan awal.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: KPWKM beri bantuan RM3,000 kepada keluarga mangsa
Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat sumbang bantuan RM3,000 kepada waris mangsa nahas helikopter yang terhempas di Lumut.
Warga emas dibaling sambal tumis sebelum disamun
Mangsa cuba menahan kesakitan yang dialami dan disebabkan hentakan itu dia mengalami kecederaan di bahagian kepala.
Kerajaan akan umum butiran mekanisme rasionalisasi subsidi - Rafizi
Kerajaan akan memaklumkan butiran mengenai pelan rasionalisasi subsidi termasuk kriteria dan implikasinya tidak lama lagi.
[TERKINI] Tun Mahathir antara individu disiasat isu pengisytiharan harta - SPRM
Ketua Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) Tan Sri Azam Baki berkata bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad adalah antara individu yang disiasat berhubung isu pengisytiharan harta.
10 wira negara korban helikopter terhempas selamat bersemadi
Proses pengebumian dijalankan selepas semua jenazah selesai menjalani proses bedah siasat di Jabatan Forensik Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) Ipoh pada jam 2.20 petang pada Rabu.
Inflasi Malaysia kekal 1.8 peratus pada Mac 2024 - Perangkaan
Inflasi Malaysia kekal 1.8 peratus pada Mac 2024 dengan mata indeks mencatatkan 132.2 berbanding 129.9 pada bulan yang sama tahun sebelumnya.
Tangisan anak bongsu Noor Rahiza undang sebak
Tangisan anak bongsu Bintara Muda TNL Noor Rahiza Anuar yang berusia enam tahun ketika melihat jenazah ibunya dikebumikan malam tadi mengundang rasa sebak sehingga membuatkan ramai hadirin turut menangis.
Akaun Fleksibel KWSP: Pengeluaran tahun pertama dianggarkan cecah RM25 bilion
Akaun 3 KWSP yang menjadi tumpuan ramai, dikenali sebagai Akaun Fleksibel dan merupakan pilihan bagi sejumlah 16.07 juta ahli.
Serangan dron Iran tidak akan berlaku sekiranya Israel berhenti seksa rakyat Palestin - Pakar
Serangan dron oleh Iran ke atas Israel tidak akan berlaku sekiranya rejim Zionis itu menghentikan kedegilan dan kerakusan membunuh dan menyerang rakyat Palestin.
MITEC dinobat sebagai Pusat Konvensyen Terbaik Asia, Malaysia 2023 oleh World MICE Awards
Venue pertama dibina khas di Malaysia untuk mesyuarat, persidangan, pameran dan acara gaya hidup yang merangkul anugerah berprestij itu.
Bursa Malaysia lepasi paras 1,500 selepas setahun
FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) telah melepasi paras 1,500 mata.
Lebih 1,700 individu ditahan dalam operasi senjata Interpol di Asia
Lebih 1,700 suspek ditahan di 10 negara Asia dalam operasi besar-besaran terhadap penyeludupan senjata api haram, kata Interpol.
Pasaran saham global dijangka melonjak tahun depan - Goldman Sachs
Unjuran itu termasuk jangkaan pulangan harga lapan peratus dan jumlah pulangan kepada 10 peratus untuk saham global pada tahun depan.
Australia mahu layak awal ke Piala Dunia 2026
Australia terpaksa memenangi playoff menentang Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) untuk ke Qatar tahun lalu selepas terlepas kelayakan langsung.
Sukan skuasy dipertandingkan di Olimpik 2028
Skuasy bakal dipertandingkan di pentas Sukan Olimpik 2028 (LA28) selepas mendapat kelulusan Lembaga Eksekutif Jawatankuasa Olimpik Antarabangsa (IOC) dalam satu mesyuarat yang berlangsung di Mumbai.
Peruntukan RM30 juta bukti kerajaan mahu Malaysia jadi hab e-sukan diiktiraf
Ketua Yoodo Chow Tuck Mun berkata e-sukan dilihat semakin berkembang, malah terdapat banyak bakat tempatan dan pemain yang berjaya mencipta nama dalam sukan itu.
Malaysia antara peminum kopi terbanyak di Asia Pasifik
Rakyat Malaysia secara purata meminum 107 cawan kopi pada tahun 2021 berbanding hanya 52 cawan pada empat tahun sebelumnya.
Keberkesanan servis boleh jadi kunci rampas emas Thailand
Senjata yang diperlukan skuad negara untuk mengatasi Thailand adalah menerusi servis konsisten yang menghasilkan mata atau sekurang-kurangnya menyukarkan pemain lawan.