Japan: Premier urges caution as virus cases shoot up

ANKARA

Japan’s prime minister on Friday called for caution amid “signs of coronavirus spread,” a day after daily infections in the country topped 1,000 for the first time since late August.

“There are signs of coronavirus spread in Japan. We have to watch the situation with a stronger sense of caution than before,” Yoshihide Suga said in a parliamentary committee meeting, according to Kyodo News Agency.

With 1,050 infections reported on Thursday - the highest daily figure since Aug. 21 - Japan’s overall COVID-19 count now stands at 105,688, including 1,821 fatalities.

The spike in Japan’s virus numbers has come after the government started easing restrictions and boosting domestic tourism as part of efforts to shore up the hard-hit economy.

Nishimura Yasutoshi, the economic revitalization minister, said there remains a need for closer analysis of the virus trends in Japan, according to a report by NHK World.

“Reports of daily new cases have remained flat or are on a slight increase,” said Nishimura, who is also leading the COVID-19 response.

“It is important to analyze the trend by examining when a person developed symptoms, and not when his or her case was reported,” he said.