• In Tokyo, 8,529 new cases were confirmed, up 2.35-fold from a week before

TOKYO: Japan confirmed 47,977 new coronavirus cases Thursday, more than double the week-before figure of 23,442.

The daily count marked a week-on-week increase for the 17th consecutive day. Just on Wednesday, it topped 40,000 for the first time since May 18.

The recent increase is believed to be led by the spread of the highly contagious BA.5 omicron variant.

The health ministry has issued a notice urging local governments across the country to secure hospital beds and expand testing capacities.

On Thursday, 15 new COVID-19 fatalities were reported in Japan.

According to the ministry, the number of severely ill patients dropped by one from Wednesday to 67.

In Tokyo, 8,529 new cases were confirmed, up 2.35-fold from a week before. The daily figure marked a week-on-week increase for the 20th straight day, while no new fatal cases were recorded.

The seven-day average of new infections in Tokyo rose 101.6 pct from a week earlier to 5,127.7. The number of severely ill patients under the metropolitan government’s criteria stood at six, down by two from Wednesday.

In Osaka Prefecture, the daily count of new cases came to 4,615, topping 4,000 for three days in a row.

Saga Prefecture logged its record daily high of 694 cases, surpassing the previous record of 680 cases marked April 19. Tottori Prefecture saw a record daily tally for the second consecutive day, at 219.

JIJI Press