The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 14 new coronavirus cases Sunday, marking the seventh strait day the number of new infections was in the double-digits, media reports said.
The daily cases in the capital have averaged 21 so far this month. A growing number of recent cases have occurred in popular nightlife areas such as Shinjuku’s adult entertainment district, with its hostess bars and host clubs where close contact is the norm. That is raising worries of a possible resurgence after the national state of emergency was lifted across the nation on May 25.
Gov. Yuriko Koike said Sunday after meeting with economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura that the capital would require workers in such entertainment districts to periodically take tests for the virus, Kyodo News reported.
With the latest cases, the total number of infections in Tokyo stands at 5,383, with 311 deaths, according to metropolitan government data. Tokyo has issued a so-called Tokyo Alert, asking residents to keep vigilance against infection risks.
Nationwide, 46 new cases were reported Saturday, raising the total number of infections with the pneumonia-causing virus, including those aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, to 17,826 with 932 deaths, according to Kyodo News.