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Tokyo raises its virus alert to the highest level due to a spike in Covid-19 cases

The capital is now officially on stage four alert. New rules for businesses or individuals may be coming

Kaila Imada
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Kaila Imada
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According to The Japan Times, on Thursday November 19, Tokyo has reported a new daily record of 534 Covid-19 cases, breaking yesterday’s record of 493 cases. As reported by The Mainichi Shimbun, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has officially raised the city’s coronavirus alert to stage four, the highest level on the capital’s alert scale.

Experts and officials met on Thursday to discuss raising the alert level amid a surge of new cases without clear infection routes.

The last time Tokyo raised its alert to stage four was back on July 15, when 165 new cases were recorded. At that time, the metropolitan government urged nightlife businesses to close early and people to stay home if possible. So far, similar regulations have not been announced this time around.

Coronavirus cases have also been rapidly increasing in Hokkaido, which reported over 200 new cases for four days straight in mid-November. Sapporo residents, especially, have been advised to avoid non-essential outings while businesses in Susukino, the city's nightlife district, are urged to not operate between 10pm and 5am. 

At the time of writing, there are 35,722 confirmed cases in Tokyo.

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.

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