Tokyo Reports 299 Coronavirus Cases
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 299 new cases of the coronavirus as of 3 p.m. Monday.
This marks the first time since November 24 that the figure was below 300. The number of cases confirmed on Mondays is usually lower because many medical institutions are closed on weekends.
The figure remained at around 300 for the third straight Monday.
A total of 44,003 people have tested positive in Tokyo.
On Sunday, the number of patients in hospital in Tokyo exceeded 1,800 for the first time. It was the third consecutive day that the number reached a record high.
The occupancy rate of hospital beds secured by the Metropolitan Government has exceeded 70 percent. The rate is nearing the record high of 71.3 percent when the second coronavirus wave hit Tokyo in the summer.
The Metropolitan Government is calling on medical institutions to boost the number of beds to 3,000 by securing 360 more, including 50 for seriously ill patients.
Officials plan to ease the shortage of beds by using accommodations for people who have no or mild symptoms.
