Jul 30, 2021 - World

Japan expands COVID-19 emergency amid case spike

Erin Doherty

People wearing face masks cross Shibuya crossing on July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images

Japan expanded its coronavirus state of emergency to four more areas in addition to Tokyo on Friday amid record spikes in infections, AP reports.

The big picture: The state of emergency now includes Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba, near Tokyo, as well as in the western city of Osaka, effective Monday until Aug. 31.

Emergency measures remain in place in Olympic host city Tokyo as cases continue to climb.
“Infections are expanding in the Tokyo and western metropolitan areas at an enormous speed that we have never experienced before,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said, per AP.

By the numbers: Tokyo has reported a record increase in cases for three days in a row, including 3,865 on Thursday, before another 3,300 on Friday.

Japan's seven-day rolling average is growing and now stands at 28 per 100,000 people nationwide and 88 per 100,000 in Tokyo, according to AP.
Approximately 2,995 are hospitalized in Tokyo, about half the current capacity of 6,000 beds, with some hospitals already full.

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Japan expands COVID-19 emergency amid case spike

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