TOKYO: Japan confirmed 2,073 new coronavirus cases Saturday, the second consecutive day above 2,000.

The country reported 31 new deaths from the virus. There were 331 patients with severe symptoms, up by eight from Friday.

Osaka Prefecture reported 386 new cases and Hyogo Prefecture 164 new cases, both the highest since the government’s COVID-19 state emergency was lifted for the western prefectures at the end of February.

The northeastern prefecture of Miyagi confirmed 129 new cases, the fifth straight day above 100, and neighboring Yamagata Prefecture had 45 new cases, its second-highest level.

Tokyo reported 430 new cases, the first above 400 in three days. The capital’s seven-day average of new cases rose to 342.9 from 298.7 a week before.

Saturday’s new cases in Tokyo included 107 among people in their 20s, 74 in their 30s, 56 in their 40s, 54 in their 50s and 35 in their 70s. The number of severely ill patients fell by one to 44.

JIJI Press