Tokyo's governor says the city remains at a critical phase in its battle to prevent an explosive rise in coronavirus infections, and that the situation is getting more serious.
Koike Yuriko gave the assessment at a news conference on Friday. She said people should avoid closed, crowded places and close-contact settings.
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has outlined the steps the city's government would take if the prime minister declares a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.
Koike said in a briefing on Friday that she will likely ask residents to stay at home, and request public facilities and event organizers to suspend the use of venues. She said specific requests would be decided after the central government issues relevant guidelines.
Sources familiar with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's health policy say officials are working to secure hotels for currently hospitalized coronavirus patients whose symptoms are mild.
The sources say doctors will be at the hotels to monitor patients. They add that patients will be hospitalized again if their symptoms worsen.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say 97 more people have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus in the capital. The figure reported on Thursday is a record high for daily cases in Tokyo.
The news came after the previous one-day record of 78 was reported on Tuesday.
The PV for Tokyo Jihen's new song "Eien no Fuzai Shomei" has been uploaded onto YouTube.
"Eien no Fuzai Shomei" can be found in the band's upcoming album "News" to be released on April 8 and will be used as the theme song for the movie 'Meitantei Conan: Hiiro no Dangan' premiering on April 17. Directed by Kodama Yuichi, the PV shows the members descending to earth during the leap year.
Data show younger generations account for a large portion of people confirmed to have the new coronavirus in Tokyo.
The pace of increase in coronavirus cases has risen in Japan's capital in recent days. Infections were confirmed among 41 people on March 25. The daily figure has since shown ups and downs, hitting 78 on Tuesday and 66 on Wednesday.
Education authorities in Tokyo are thinking about keeping metropolitan high schools closed until early May to deal with the surge in the number of coronavirus infections in the capital.
Schools were temporarily closed in March, in line with Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's request for shutdowns through spring break to contain the coronavirus.
A Japanese government panel says Tokyo would become unable to function as the country's capital in about three hours if a large-scale eruption of Mount Fuji were to occur.
When Mount Fuji last erupted in December 1707, it spewed ash for more than two weeks. Several centimeters accumulated in the city of Edo, which later became Tokyo.
International sports bodies have begun rescheduling next year's competitions to make way for the Tokyo Olympics, which have been postponed for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was decided on Monday that the Tokyo 2020 Games will open on July 23, 2021 and last 17 days.
It has been disclosed that 38 people in Tokyo confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus whose infection routes remain unclear may have contracted the virus at night spots.
At a news conference on Monday, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko urged people not to spend time in bars and other spots operating during the nighttime hours. Koike said that such entertainment establishments are high risk, because they are closed spaces with poor ventilation.
The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee has announced the new dates for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Games were postponed until next year due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
At a news conference on Monday, the committee said the Tokyo Olympics will run for 17 days, from July 23, 2021. It said the Paralympics will run for 13 days, from August 24 of the same year.
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko is urging people not to spend time in bars and other spots operating during the nighttime hours, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
She was speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, following a recent spike in the number of the coronavirus infections in the capital.
An NHK opinion poll shows that more than 90 percent of the respondents support the decision to delay the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
NHK conducted the survey over the weekend. More than 1,300 people responded.
Several Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say new dates for the 2020 Tokyo Games have been decided.
The Tokyo Olympics will open on July 23, 2021 and the Paralympic Games will open on August 24 of the same year.