Japan adds record number of infections since January after extending the emergency

Japan today registered more than 7,000 new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since January, just one day after the Asian country extended the current state of emergency until the end of May.

The capital, Tokyo, which should host the Olympics in just over two and a half months, reported 1,121 new cases today, its highest number since last January 22, when the second state of emergency was still activated.

More than a dozen prefectures in the country recorded historic highs this day, such as Aichi (center), with 575 cases, or Hokkaido (North), where 403 new infections have been registered.

The Asian country declared on April 23 a third state of emergency in its most populated regions to try to control the rise in infections.

Under this new framework, measures have been activated such as asking bars and restaurants not to serve alcohol, or imposing the celebration of sporting or mass events with a capacity limitation of five thousand attendees or half the capacity of the venue.

On Friday, given the persistent escalation, it was announced that the health alert will be extended until the end of the month in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo, and will be included in it from next Wednesday to the prefectures of Aichi (center) and Fukuoka (southwest).