Japan has recorded the most COVID cases since March, delaying the domestic travel plan
Japan recorded more than 76,000 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, more than double from a week earlier and topping 70,000 marks for the first time since March 3 amid signs that the country is undergoing the seventh waves of infections.
One day of infections was recorded in 12 prefectures including the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa, which saw 3,436 infections and four more deaths.
In response to the growing case, the government now plans to postpone the launch of a nationwide travel subsidy program for Japanese residents that it envisioned for the first half of July.
People wearing face masks walk in Tokyo’s Shibuya area on July 12, 2022, behind an electric board displaying the news that Japan’s capital has reported 11,511 new coronavirus infections. (Kyodo)
The new subsidy campaign is expected to be an expanded version of a similar program currently being implemented at the prefectural level to encourage local travel among residents. The government will continue its financial support for area -limited subsidies until the end of August.
Despite the postponement, government officials ruled on restrictions on the movement of people. At a news conference, health minister Shigeyuki Goto expressed concern about the further increase in infections over the upcoming summer holiday season, but said, “We don’t think the current situation is requires motion controls. “
The National Governors ’Association’s coronavirus response head office compiled a range of government recommendations on Tuesday, including expanded free lab trials and financial support to the tourism industry.
Tokyo’s results on Tuesday reflected the national picture, with the metropolitan government reporting 11,511 new coronavirus infections, more than double the level last week. The numbers exceed 10,000 in the capital for the first time since March 16.
Its seven -day rolling average of new cases was 8,941 per day, up 136.6 percent on the previous week. One death was also confirmed.
The new figures come after Shigeru Omi, the head of a panel of government COVID-19 experts, said on Monday that Japan had “undoubtedly entered” a seventh wave of coronavirus infections. The surge is likely powered by the BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant, which is said to be highly transferable.
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