TOKYO: Japan reported 5,818 new coronavirus infection cases Wednesday, sending its total cases so far above 700,000.

The number of severely ill COVID-19 patients rose by 58 from Tuesday to a record 1,293, according to the health ministry. New fatalities totaled 97 cases.

The Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed 766 new positive cases, down by 203 from a week before.

Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, reported 477 cases, falling from 849 a week earlier.

Meanwhile, the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, which has asked the central government to put it under a state of emergency, posted 203 cases, exceeding 200 for the first time.

In Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, 34 people newly tested positive, also a record high.

The seven-day average of new infection cases in Tokyo stood at 727.9 as of Wednesday, down 16.7 pct from a week before.

The number of severely ill patients under Tokyo’s standards came to 73, down by eight from Tuesday.

JIJI Press