Tokyo [Japan], August 19: Japan logged a record daily high of 255,534 new COVID-19 cases Thursday as the country feared a strain on the medical system fueled by the seventh wave of infections.
The daily tally topped the previous record of 250,403 cases registered on Aug. 10, with 21 of Japan's 47 prefectures posting record high numbers. A total of 287 deaths were reported nationwide.
The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 27,453 new cases, down 1,963 from Wednesday.
The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in the capital fell by two from Wednesday to 33, while the nationwide figure is 610, down 17 from Wednesday.
Japan's health ministry said that the spiraling number of cases have further strained the medical system, noting that the hospital bed occupancy rate is rising, Kyodo News reported.
Source: Xinhua
