TOKYO, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday reported 222 new daily COVID-19 cases, jumping from 188 cases confirmed in the previous day, 197 on Monday although down from Sunday's surge of 331 new infections.
Tokyo, the epicenter of the outbreak of the virus in Japan, has now seen its cumulative total of COVID-19 infections increase to 16,474, the highest among all of Japan's 47 prefectures.
Of the total new cases, 135 people were aged in their 20s and 30s, accounting for around 61 percent of the total, the Tokyo metropolitan government said.
Concerns are continuing to rise about the virus' resurgence in the capital and other major urban areas in Japan including Osaka and Tokyo's neighboring prefecture of Kanagawa since the government completely lifted a state of emergency at the end of May.
Many Japanese people tend to travel to visit relatives in their hometowns during the current Bon holiday season, which has also sparked fears about the virus' spread across prefectural borders.
Tokyoites have been urged to refrain from traveling to their hometowns for family reunions during the Bon holiday period which usually sees an annual mass-exodus from the capital, as well as from dining out in large groups over extended periods, or attending smaller evening held gathering in close proximity with others.
The Tokyo metropolitan government has maintained its alert level at the highest on its four-tier scale meaning that "infections are spreading" and has warned residents to maintain the utmost caution.
Establishments serving alcohol like bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors have been requested by the Tokyo metropolitan government to close their businesses by 10:00 p.m. nightly for the majority of August.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, meanwhile, has not ruled out the possibility of declaring a Tokyo-specific state of emergency should the COVID-19 situation in the capital continue to worsen. Enditem
