KITAKYUSHU, Fukuoka -- The Kitakyushu city government in Fukuoka Prefecture closed 43 public facilities on Thursday, just a couple of days after reopening them, due to a resurgence in coronavirus infections in the city and fears over a second wave of the pandemic.
"We're sure to be hit by a second wave if [new cases] continue at a pace like this. We want to share this recognition and overcome this crisis," said Kitakyushu Mayor Kenji Kitahashi at a regular press conference on the day.
No cases had been confirmed in the city for more than three weeks since April 30. However, a total of 22 new cases had been confirmed by Wednesday, with new cases seen daily for five consecutive days. The figure includes eight new cases confirmed on Wednesday.
Over the week to Wednesday, the number of cases confirmed per 100,000 people in the city was 2.35. This is far higher than "0.5 or fewer," the criteria the central government set for lifting a state of emergency.
Of the 22 cases, the routes of infection had yet to be identified for 17 cases. A cluster countermeasure team of the health ministry was dispatched to the city and began its investigation on Thursday.
At the Thursday press conference , Kitahashi reported the death of a woman in her 80s who had tested positive on Wednesday.
"We'll do our best to contain infections," Kitahashi stressed. He asked residents to participate in joint efforts to implement countermeasures to curb infections.
The city governments plans to close the 43 facilities until June 18, including Kokura Castle Tower. Although it reopened Tuesday after closing for about three months to slow the pandemic, its wooden entrance gate was closed and a sign telling visitors the tower was closed was on display on Thursday.
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