Tokyo confirmed 28 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, two days after Gov. Yuriko Koike issued a Tokyo Alert in a sign of a possible resurgence of infections in the capital.
The alert serves as a call for caution. But if the number further increases, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to issue requests again to businesses and people that would halt social and economic activities.
Tokyo reported 34 cases on Tuesday, the highest since Japan fully lifted its state of emergency last week and the first time since May 14 for daily infections to top 30. On Wednesday, 12 new cases were reported.
Koike has warned that Tokyo is seeing an increase in infections among those who go to or work in nightlife districts, especially in the Shinjuku area this week.
The Tokyo Alert, however, is not intended to move back the phases for reopening businesses that have already been implemented, according to Koike.
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