The city of Tokyo registered another peak in daily COVID-19 cases, the Kyodo news agency has reported, at more than 3,000.
Three prefectures around Tokyo are set to ask the government to call a state of emergency there, while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the Japanese public should be reassured by anti-virus measures taken by organisers.
Olympics organisers on Wednesday reported 16 new Games-related COVID-19 cases, bringing the disclosed total to 169.Â
Three regions near Tokyo to ask for state of emergency on Thursday – minister
Three prefectures around Japan’s capital of Tokyo are set to ask the government to call a state of emergency there on Thursday, has said Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is spearheading efforts to battle the coronavirus.
Tokyo is under a state of emergency even as it hosts the Olympic Games, though curbs are slightly less restrictive in the surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama.
Nishimura also forecast that daily coronavirus cases, already at a record high, would rise further in the coming days as testing may have been delayed during last week’s holidays.
The COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 196 million people and killed at least 4.1 million around the world.Â
