The Tokyo metropolitan government announced Friday that 40 new cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Tokyo. The number of newly infected people per day topped 40 for the third straight day. About 300 people have been found to be infected in the capital.
A total of 124 people across the nation were newly confirmed on the day to be infected with the virus. It is the first time that the number of infected people has exceeded 100 for a single day.
According to the metropolitan government, of the 40 people who tested positive on Friday, 15 were from Eiju General Hospital in Taito Ward, which is suspected of having an outbreak of infections within the facility. In 18 of the other cases, the infection route is unknown.
The number of people found to be infected in Tokyo topped 10 for the first time on March 14. The number jumped to 41 on Wednesday and reached 47 on Thursday.
Regarding whether a state of emergency will be declared based on the revised law on measures against new influenza strains, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Friday at a regular news conference: "It's on the verge. I want to prepare before the breakdown of medical care occurs, as seen overseas."
Koike has asked Tokyo residents to voluntarily refrain from going out to crowded places on the weekend if such outings are nonurgent and nonessential. She made clear that going to a supermarket or pharmacy to buy daily necessities such as food and medicine as well as going to a hospital are not included, and that there is no restriction on those activities.
As cherry blossom viewing should be regarded as a nonurgent or nonessential outing, she added, "[Cherry blossoms] will bloom again next year, so rather please look forward to it."
There have been cases of people stocking up on large quantities of certain items at some supermarkets. "Please refrain from buying too much food and act calmly," Koike said.
Meanwhile, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura held an emergency press conference on Friday, asking residents to refrain from nonurgent and nonessential outings for two days from Saturday to Sunday. The move comes after the number of people newly infected with the virus reached a daily high of 20 on Friday.
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