Tokyo has unveiled a set of new benchmarks it will use when considering whether to request a COVID-19 state of emergency, such as if the rate of hospital bed occupancy for patients with serious symptoms has reached a threshold of 30% to 40%.
Under the new guidelines, the metropolitan government will also look at whether the percentage of COVID-19 patients needing a supply of oxygen has reached 30% to 40%, as the capital tries to strike a balance in preventing further strain on the medical system and further affecting economic activity.
Tokyo is among 34 of Japan's 47 prefectures under a COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency amid surging infections driven by the highly transmissible omicron variant.