TOKYO: Osaka Prefecture confirmed 226 new cases of novel coronavirus infection on Tuesday, marking the second-highest daily level for the western Japan prefecture.

The prefecture’s daily count topped 200 for the first time since Aug. 7, when a record 255 cases were reported.

By age, people in their 20s accounted for 63, making up the largest group of new cases in Osaka, followed by 34 in their 50s and 29 in their 30s. The number of severely ill patients rose by 14 from Monday to 58.

“We’re in a third wave,” Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said, calling for thorough preventive measures.

Across the country, 1,284 new cases were reported, including 166 in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and 293 in Tokyo.

Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, confirmed 126 new cases while detecting four new clusters, including one at a nursing home.

Tokyo’s new cases included 70 in their 20s, 60 in their 30s, 53 in their 40s and 46 aged 65 or older.

In the Japanese capital, there were 33 infected people with severe symptoms, down two from the previous day.

Twelve new deaths from the coronavirus were reported in the country, including three each in Tokyo and Osaka.

JIJI Press