Confirmed novel coronavirus clusters have been reported at 1,761 locations across the nation as of Monday and the cumulative number of confirmed infections topped 100,000, according to the health ministry.
As of Thursday, 100,502 people have tested positive, including the 712 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, indicating that the situation is yet to be brought under control.
According to the tally by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, clusters most commonly occurred in restaurants, at 441 locations.
In the first wave of the virus infections ending on May 25, when the government lifted the state of emergency declaration, infections spread from clubs with live music, and other places. After the emergency was lifted, the second wave of infections spread mainly from karaoke bars and nightlife districts in urban areas.
The second-most common place of clusters was at business and government offices at 379 locations, followed by welfare facilities at 319 locations, and medical institutions at 307 locations.
On Thursday, 809 infections were logged nationwide, bringing the total to more than 100,000 cases in the 9-1/2-month period starting Jan. 16 when the government announced the first infection.
The highest number of infections on a daily basis was 1,605 on Aug. 7. Afterward, confirmed cases of infection was on the decline. The number, however, rebounded slightly this month and the total death toll from the virus increased to 1,761 nationwide.
The mortality rate of those infected stood at 5.2% in the first wave, according to local government figures released by Wednesday. The rate in the second wave, however, dropped to 1.1%, showing a significant lessening as of Saturday, according to local governments.
In the second wave, cases with serious symptoms is believed to have decreased as novel coronavirus infections spread mainly among youths.
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