TOKYO, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The number of new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Tokyo on Thursday surged to a record high of 224, the highest since the outbreak of the virus hit the capital and rocketing from the 75 cases confirmed the previous day, the Tokyo Metropolitan government said.
The latest number eclipses the previous daily record of 206 cases confirmed in Tokyo on April 17, with the rebound in infections in the city of 14 million, the epicenter of the outbreak, sparking concerns over a second wave of COVID-19 cases hitting the country.
The capital has continued to grapple with a resurgence of cases since the government's emergency declaration over the virus was completely lifted on May 25, but COVID-19 cases confirmed the previous day had dipped from seven straight days of topping 100 infections, to 75 new cases, in a brief but possibly misleading sign the virus' spread was slowing.
New cases detected in Tokyo's surrounding prefectures have also remained comparatively high, with 48 new cases confirmed in Saitama and 23 in Kanagawa Prefecture on Wednesday, official figures showed.
Confirming the highest-ever number of COVID-19 cases being recorded in the capital, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said at a taskforce meeting "that by age group, people in their 20s and 30s account for 75 percent of new cases. By infection route, so-called 'night town-related' cases occupies a certain number."
Of the latest infections, 109 people were aged in their 20s, while 60 were aged in their 30s, the metropolitan government said.
The infection routes are known in 120 of those testing positive, while 104 new cases have no known route of infection, officials said, adding that 74 people newly infected are employees and guests of downtown nighttime entertainment establishments.
The majority, 52, are connected to such establishments in a downtown spot in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, while four of the new cases are connected to the Ikebukuro district, they said.
The latest figures underscore the virus' resurgence in the capital seeing disproportionately high numbers of those testing positive for the pneumonia-causing virus being younger people, with downtown entertainment districts in Tokyo, particularly those in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, seemingly being hotbeds for the virus.
"More recently, infections are being detected not only at entertainment establishments, but also infections are being recorded from parties and dinners held by young friends," Koike also said.
Local officials have voiced concerns about the rising possibility of the virus being passed on from younger carriers infected in downtown areas and from parties and dinners, to the elderly, who will likely suffer more severe symptoms that will require hospitalization and could once again put a heavy strain on medical facilities in Tokyo and beyond.
Koike added that the sharp rise in infections may be the result of increased polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, but warned that "more caution is needed regarding trends in the number of infected people."
The Tokyo metropolitan government, on May 25, when the declaration of emergency was lifted, said that 920 people underwent PCR testing in Tokyo, but on June 12 the number had climbed to 2,118, surpassing the 2,000-mark for the first time.
By July 3, the number of tests reached 2,715, marking the highest number of PCR tests carried out in the capital. As of Thursday morning, 1,857 tests were carried out, the metropolitan government said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the situation would be closely monitored, but suggested for now the medical system can cope.
"The number of serious cases has fallen dramatically since April, and the medical system is not under strain. We will monitor the situation with a high level of alertness," Abe told a press briefing on the matter Thursday.
As well as urging those patronizing nighttime districts to ensure the necessary virus prevention measures are being taken inside the establishments, the Tokyo metropolitan government has also asked residents to refrain from making unnecessary trips across prefectural borders.
The government, however, has said that reissuing a state of emergency in the capital, or requesting tighter restrictions on people's movements and business operations is not being considered at this juncture.
Japan's top government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Thursday the central government is "not considering declaring another state of emergency at the moment."
Suga added that the spike in cases in Tokyo would not alter the government's decision to ease rules on the number of people attending events, with Friday's plan to allow up to 5,000 people to attend events, including professional sports, remaining unchanged.
Japan's nationwide COVID-19 cases, meanwhile, increased by 355 on Thursday, officials said.
Along with Tokyo's sharp increase, 30 new infections were recorded in Osaka Prefecture and 25 in Tokyo's neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture.
Japan's cumulative total now stands at 20,768 cases, not including those related to a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama near Tokyo in February, with those dying from the virus totaling 995 people, according to the latest figures Thursday evening. Enditem