TOKYO: Daily COVID-19 cases in Japan topped 1,000 Tuesday for the first time since Oct. 6 last year, when the tally hit 1,125.

Tuesday’s count stood at 1,068 as of 6 p.m. (9 a.m. GMT).

In the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, 225 new cases of novel coronavirus infection were reported, with its daily number exceeding 200 for the first time since 229 on Sept. 16.

People in their 20s and 30s accounted for 135 of Tuesday’s total in Okinawa, according to the prefectural government. The surge in new cases apparently reflected an increase in contact between youths during the year-end and New Year’s holiday period, prefectural officials said.

In addition, 164 new cases were reported from the U.S. forces in Okinawa, with COVID-19 cases found at U.S. military facilities in the prefecture totaling 996 since Dec. 15.

In Tokyo, 151 people tested were confirmed to carry the virus Tuesday, up by 62 from a week before. The daily tally in the Japanese capital exceeded 150 for the first time since 161 on Oct. 3.

The western prefectures of Osaka, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Shiga saw 124, 109, 79 and 40 new cases, respectively.

JIJI Press