Tokyo reported 5,094 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, down from the record 5,773 recorded Friday but up from the 4,566 logged a week ago, with the number of severely ill COVID-19 patients also hitting a record high of 245.
The seven-day average of new infections in the capital came to 4,231.1, up from 3893.0 a week before, according to the metropolitan government, while the number of severely ill patients in the capital rose by 18 from Friday.
Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms totaled 1,521 as of Friday, up 43 from the previous day and hitting a record high for the second straight day, the health ministry said Saturday.
Kanagawa Prefecture logged a record 2,356 new cases Saturday, while Osaka Prefecture recorded a fresh high of 1,828 new cases, its fourth consecutive day over 1,000. Chiba Prefecture logged a record 1,272 new cases.
Elsewhere, Okinawa Prefecture on Saturday recorded 752 new cases and two deaths. Gunma Prefecture reported 218 new cases, its second straight day over 200, while Hyogo Prefecture tallied 628.
In a sign of the growing spread of the virus in less populated parts of the country, Kagawa Prefecture logged 107 new cases, its first time over 100. Kagoshima Prefecture saw a record 164 new cases while Shiga and Mie prefectures hit new daily highs of 179 and 148 cases, respectively.