The daily number of new COVID-19 infection cases in Tokyo came to 1,308 on Thursday, standing above 1,300 for the first time in about six months. 

The last time the daily figure in the Japanese capital topped 1,300 was Jan. 21, when 1,485 new cases were reported.

Thursday’s figure, topping 1,000 for the second consecutive day, rose by 412 from a week before, surpassing the week-before level for the 26th straight day.

It also exceeded the daily peak of 1,121 cases marked in May during a fourth wave of infections in Japan for two days in a row, following Wednesday’s 1,149 cases.

According to the health ministry, the number of very ill COVID-19 patients across Japan dropped by 16 from Wednesday to 396, falling below 400 for the first time since April 2.

The Tokyo metropolitan government said that the seven-day average of new cases in the capital increased 32.9 pct from a week earlier to 882.1.

Of Thursday’s new cases, people in their 20s formed the largest group of new infections by age, at 450, followed by 256 in their 30s, 211 in their 40s and 153 in their 50s. People aged between 10-19 accounted for 103, while those aged 65 or over made up 45.

The number of severely ill COVID-19 patients under the metropolitan government’s criteria rose by three from Wednesday to 57.

JIJI Press