Tokyo Coronavirus Daily Cases Drop Slightly
For the first time since a new state of emergency was issued, Tokyo's daily COVID-19 tally dropped below 700, but officials warn there is still a long way to go.
The Metropolitan Government reported 618 new cases on Monday, a slight drop following weeks of high numbers. The city of 14 million remains the biggest source of infection for the country, accounting for over a quarter of Japan's total cases.
Tokyo's emergency decree is set to last about two more weeks. The minister in charge of Japan's coronavirus response says lifting it would require careful consideration.
Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi said, "One criterion for lifting the declaration is for the number of new cases in Tokyo to fall below 500. But that doesn't mean the state of emergency will be lifted as soon as the figure falls below that number. Any decision will require a comprehensive assessment, including that of the hospital bed situation."
Officials are tracking the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the capital. The figure is going down but will need to drop significantly for Tokyo to move to Stage Three.
The situation at hospitals is even more dire with a troubling bed crunch showing no sign of abating. Seventy percent of beds set aside for coronavirus patients are occupied, forcing some institutions to turn people away.
That's contributed to a grim new trend across the country.
Police have released figures that show nearly 200 people who weren't being treated in hospital have died from the coronavirus since last March.
Many died at home, during self-quarantine --- a situation that's growing more common. 75 deaths were reported in the first three weeks of January --- up from 56 for all of December.
In many cases, officials only confirmed people were infected after their death. With hospitals under increased stress, officials worry about what may come next. The latest figures show more than 35,000 carriers in Japan are caring for themselves at home.
Tateda Kazuhiro, President of Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, said, " If you wait and see at home, your condition could suddenly worsen. It is important to consult with a medical institution at an earlier stage, instead of trying to be patient."
Some local governments are stepping in to help. They're sending nurses to people's homes to check for signs of trouble and setting up hotlines where patients can get medical advice around the clock.