Tokyo Reports Record 31,878 New Cases Of Covid On Thursday
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 31,878 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest ever daily tally, on Thursday.
It is also the first time that the daily figure has exceeded 30,000 in the Japanese capital.
The previous record was 21,562 set on February 2 during the peak of the sixth wave of infections.
The latest figure was up 15,216 from a week ago, or 1.9-times the total last Thursday.
Officials say the number of seriously-ill patients on ventilators or ECMO heart-lung machines is 15, down three from Wednesday.
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko urged everyone to take thorough anti-infection measures now that there is a higher chance of mingling with people who are infected with the coronavirus, or being in close contact with such patients.
She said the metropolitan government has been providing a support system so that people can feel secure, and it has also increased its manpower at call centers for consultation.
The governor also expressed her gratitude to healthcare workers for their ongoing efforts, citing a low level of seriously-ill coronavirus patients in the capital.
Koike added that the Tokyo government intends to use its medical resources in a strategically effective manner.