An additional 267 persons across the nation were confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, marking a daily record high.
On the same day, the Tokyo metropolitan government reported 66 newly confirmed cases in Tokyo, while more than 30 people were found to be infected in Osaka and Fukuoka prefectures, respectively, showing the spread of the virus in metropolitan areas.
Infection routes were not identified for 38, or nearly 60%, of the 66 people in Tokyo.
The Tokyo metropolitan government is set to clarify how the infection was passed, since unidentified clusters of infections could have been or are being created.
About 70%, or 45, out of the 66 were those in their 40s or younger.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said it was because relatively young generations are involved in a "wide range of activities." She expressed concern over the situation, saying it may bring about further spread of the virus.
There were no reports on the day of infections linked to Eiju General Hospital in Taito Ward, Tokyo, where a number of patients and staff have been confirmed as being infected.
Also on Wednesday, the Tokyo metropolitan government for the first time released the breakdown of 521 people who had been confirmed to be infected with the virus as by Tuesday by ward, city, town and village in Tokyo, in apparent hope of calling attention to the situation.
The number of confirmed cases was particularly high in the 23 wards: Setagaya became the largest among them with 44 people, followed by 39 people in Minato; 28 in Suginami; 24 in Shinagawa and 22 in Shinjuku.
The number of infected people in each of the 26 cities, three towns and a village in the Tama region was less than 10.
The 521 cases included 20 people living outside of Tokyo.
Meanwhile Koike reported that the number of beds for treating those infected with the virus secured by Tokyo medical institutions have increased to 620 during a meeting of the metropolitan government's task force.
The metropolitan government is hastening preparations to secure 4,000 such beds in total.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
