Daily infections top 20,000 for first time in Tokyo

The daily number of new coronavirus cases in Tokyo on Wednesday exceeded 20,000 for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. 

The Japanese capital reported 21,576 new cases, a significant increase from the 17,631 new cases reported Friday, according to Reuters.

The nation reached a reported record of 91,760 new cases across the country, with 18 prefectures recording all-time highs, the wire service noted. 

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Wednesday that the government is not planning on declaring a state of emergency but that the government will still enforce stay-at-home orders for those in close contact with infected family members.

Currently, those in contact with infected relatives are not allowed to leave their homes until seven days after medical treatment has ended. However, the health ministry on Wednesday decided to amend the standby period to seven days beginning either when the individual shows symptoms or when they take measures to prevent infection, whichever happens later, according to Reuters. 

“In particular, as [the number of] infected children increases, [it] causes a rapid increase in infections among parents who are in close contact with them and forced to stand by at home,” Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto said, according to Reuters. 

“We need to maintain socioeconomic activity while preventing the spread of infections,” he added.