Japan s western prefecture of Osaka is set to raise its coronavirus alert to the highest of three levels, according to officials familiar with the plan, as the area s daily infection count hit a record 25,762 amid a fresh wave of COVID-19.
Tokyo confirms 5,302 new COVID-19 cases on July 5, more than double the level the week before and exceeding the 5,000 mark for the first time since April 28.
Japan is considering lifting the COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency for 18 prefectures upon its expiration next week as the number of infections in those areas has been decreasing.
Tokyo has unveiled a set of new benchmarks in considering requesting a COVID-19 state of emergency, such as if the rate of hospital bed occupancy secured for patients with serious symptoms has reached a threshold of 30 to 40 percent.