Tokyo Reports Most Daily Covid-19 Cases in Six Months as Olympics Loom
upstart writes:
Tokyo reports most daily Covid-19 cases in six months as Olympics loom:
TOKYO (REUTERS) - Tokyo reported the highest number of new Covid-19 cases in almost six months on Wednesday (July 14), with the Olympics due to open in the capital in just nine days.
The city government said there were 1,149 new cases, the highest daily tally since Jan 22, adding to evidence that a new fifth wave of infections is under way, driven by more infectious virus variants and a low vaccination rate.
Amid rising cases, the government declared renewed state of emergency for Tokyo and surrounding prefectures last week and Olympics organisers announced that no fans would be allowed at events in those areas.
[...] Health experts had warned that seasonal factors, increased mobility, and the spread of variants would lead to a rebound this summer. Kyoto University professor Yuki Furuse earlier projected that new daily cases in Tokyo could rise to 1,000 in July and 2,000 in August, potentially maxing out hospital beds in the capital region.
[...] Just 31 per cent of people in Japan have received at least one Covid-19 inoculation dose, among the lowest rate among wealthy countries, according to a Reuters tracker.
[...] A coronavirus cluster at a Japanese hotel where dozens of Brazilian Olympic team members are staying has raised new concern about infections at what the world's top Olympics official promised on Wednesday would be "historic" Games.
Current statistics from Johns Hopkins and Worldometers.com for Japan.
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