Japan's Covid Cases On The Rise Again
In Japan, COVID-19 cases are increasing again after a period of decline. On Wednesday, the nationwide count came to 45,000, or double the figure a week earlier.
Many of those cases were reported in Tokyo where over 8,300 new infections were confirmed on the day. It was the first time since mid-April that the daily tally in the capital topped 8,000.
People in the metropolis are voicing concern about the risk of infection.
One woman said, "I feel like trains are more crowded. I also see more people out when I am walking."
A man said, "I'm worried about this increase. I just have to be careful."
The rebound is already affecting hospitals. In six prefectures, more than 20 percent of hospital beds set aside for coronavirus patients are occupied.
The occupancy rate is rising in western Japan, which has been reporting some of its highest numbers since the pandemic began.