Panel: Tokyo's Covid - 19 Situation 'still Serious'
A panel of experts is warning that the coronavirus situation in Tokyo is still extremely serious despite the small decline in the number of new cases.
The panel members and Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials met on Thursday for a weekly assessment of the coronavirus infections in the capital.
The experts decided to maintain the alert for the infection situation in Tokyo and its medical system at the highest level of four.
They pointed out that the seven-day average of new cases in Tokyo fell to 1,471 as of Wednesday from the 1,699 recorded a week earlier -- a drop of about 13 percent. That was the first decline in about a month.
An expert warns that the number of new cases is exceeding capacity at hospitals and designated hotels for people who have mild or no symptoms.
He says the situation is very serious, with the medical system for non-coronavirus patients also under strain, and he thinks the number of new cases must be curbed substantially through effective measures.
The number of coronavirus patients in serious condition in Tokyo hit a new record of 160 on Wednesday.
The expert points out that the number of those with serious symptoms will increase after a rise in new cases. He warns that the healthcare system has been under strain for a prolonged period, and this is affecting the ability of medical institutions to provide emergency care.