The recent nationwide surge in novel coronavirus infections is raising questions over whether Japan will reimpose a state of emergency, with the central government's seemingly wait-and-see attitude prompting some medical experts to warn about a growing burden on the nation’s health care system while pushing for a longer-term approach.
With 239 new infections in Tokyo on Sunday, the capital surpassed the 200 mark for the sixth straight day. A day earlier, there were 803 new cases reported nationwide, pushing the country’s cumulative total over 30,000. And last week, Tokyo’s daily number of cases topped 300 for the first time, with other prefectures like Osaka setting new daily highs.
While cities worldwide have been reimposing lockdowns in response to a more potent return of the virus, the Japanese government has said there is no need to reimpose a state of emergency, despite the country’s own apparent second wave.