TOKYO: The number of novel coronavirus infection cases newly confirmed in Japan stood at 2,504 on Thursday, topping 2,000 for the first time in four days.

The death toll linked to the virus grew by 29 from the previous day to 2,078.

The new fatalities included a record daily high of 12 in Osaka Prefecture, seven in Hokkaido and three each in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture.

The number of severely ill COVID-19 patients rose by 34 to 410, topping 400 for the first time ever, the health ministry said.

In Tokyo, new coronavirus cases totaled 481, exceeding 400 for the second straight day. The number of seriously ill patients rose by six to 60.

By age, people in their 20s accounted for the largest group of new cases in the Japanese capital, at 111, followed by 82 in their 40s, 79 in their 30s and 69 in their 50s. There were 83 cases aged 65 or over, according to the metropolitan government.

The 12 new deaths in Osaka involved people in their 50s to 90s. Half of them were linked to clusters at hospitals and care facilities for the elderly.

New infection cases hit a record high in Kanagawa, at 254, Mie Prefecture, at 27, and Hyogo Prefecture, at 184.

In Miyagi Prefecture, Rifu Mayor Yutaka Kumagai tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the fourth municipal leader in the northeastern prefecture to have been infected with the virus.

JIJI Press