TOKYO: Japan confirmed 4,520 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, its first daily tally over 4,000.

The number of coronavirus patients with severe symptoms rose by 13 to a record high of 681. There were 49 new deaths from the virus.

Tokyo confirmed a record 1,337 new cases, eclipsing the previous high of 949 marked on Saturday.

The new cases in the capital included 385 in their 20s, 248 in their 30s and 195 in their 40s. There were 172 new cases in people aged 65 or older.

The capital saw its number of coronavirus patients with severe symptoms rise by four to 89, the highest level since the Japanese government’s state of emergency over the virus was lifted in May.

The positive rate hit 10.2 pct in Tokyo as of Wednesday, the highest level since the lifting of the coronavirus state of emergency.

Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, confirmed 588 new cases, becoming the first prefecture outside of the capital to report a daily tally over 500.

Among other prefectures, new cases hit a record in Saitama, at 330, Chiba, at 252, Gifu, at 83, and Fukuoka, at 190.

The health ministry said it has confirmed six new cases in Japan of a coronavirus variant that has been spreading in Britain.

The cases were confirmed at airports, the ministry said. The detection brought the number of variant cases confirmed in Japan to 21, including a case of a strain that has been found in South Africa.

JIJI Press