Experts: Coronavirus Cases In Japan Up Slightly
A panel of experts advising Japan's health ministry on coronavirus measures says infections have been rising marginally across the country.
The panel said on Wednesday that new cases had been either decreasing or remaining flat since the peak in the first week of August, but there has been a slight upturn since the beginning of this month.
Increases have been seen in parts of Hokkaido and the Tohoku and northern Kanto regions, as well as in Okinawa. The panel blames this on infection clusters and movement to and from the greater Tokyo area, where cases have not declined.
Hospitalizations remain flat, with bed occupancy rates high in Okinawa and some other areas as of last Wednesday.
The number of patients in serious condition is now reportedly declining after an increase earlier this month.
The panel is urging medical preparedness in areas where infections are spreading. It's also calling for health notices and tests in provincial entertainment districts and foreign residents' communities, which have seen clusters and could become super-spreader sites.
Panel head Wakita Takaji warns of an explosive spread of infections as seen in Europe unless clusters are fully dealt with.
