Experts: Variants May Cause Rebound In Cases
Experts monitoring the coronavirus situation in Tokyo say the decline in the number of new cases is grinding to a halt, and warning infections could rise due to the spread of variants.
Tokyo officials reported 304 new infections on Friday. The daily average over the past week has hovered around 270, which is almost the same as a week earlier.
The Tokyo area is currently under a state of emergency. The declaration was due to expire last Sunday, but has been extended to March 21.
Tokyo Medical Association Vice President Inokuchi Masataka said, "In some entertainment districts, the flow of people has surpassed the level before January 8, when the state of emergency came into effect. We have to be on alert for a possible surge."
Japanese Health Minister Tamura Norihisa says the government is monitoring the situation closely, notably the emergence of variants and how the healthcare system is coping.
He said, "When we make a final decision on whether to lift the declaration, we have to be sure we can establish a system to prevent any more increases."
It's now been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
In the US, President Joe Biden says he hopes to get the country closer to normal by July 4.
He said, "Small groups will be able to get together after this long, hard year that will make this Independence Day something truly special."
Part of his plan is instructing states, tribes and territories to make all adults eligible to receive a vaccine by May 1.
Ahead of the speech, Biden signed into law a 1.9 trillion-dollar relief package aimed at revitalizing the economy.
Globally, Johns Hopkins University says more than 118 million people have tested positive for the virus. Over 2.6 million have died.
The pace of increase has slowed, but health officials are now grappling with the emergence of variants and a shortage of vaccine supplies.
Denmark, Norway and Iceland have temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine following multiple reports of people forming blood clots after receiving the shot.
The European Union's drug regulator is investigating, but says there is currently no indication the vaccine is to blame. Japan has signed a contract with AstraZeneca to supply enough doses for 60 million people.
The country's health ministry is currently examining its safety and efficacy before approving it.