The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 286 new cases of the novel coronavirus Thursday, yet another all-time high following a weekslong surge of infections that began in late June and last week reached a string of record-breaking days.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters earlier in the day that the capital had conducted more than 4,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the most the city has ever carried out in a single day. Typically — at least in recent weeks — the metropolitan government receives and reports test results about three days after they were administered.
The previous record was set on July 10 when Tokyo reported 243 cases. The latest surge began last month when the capital reported 55 cases on June 24. Less than two weeks later, it saw 131. And then, last week, it saw four consecutive days in which new infections exceeded 200.