Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike confirmed 463 new COVID-19 infections in the capital on Friday, with the figure marking a new record daily increase, eclipsing the previous single-day record of 367 on Thursday.
The cumulative total of COVID-19 cases in the capital now stands at 12,691, more than 50 percent of which were confirmed this month, as fears rise about the aggressive pace of the virus' continued spread in the capital.
With the latest daily figure marking the first time cases have topped the 400-mark in Tokyo, Koike said if the situation continues to worsen, the Tokyo metropolitan government will have to consider declaring a state of emergency in the capital so that more robust measures can be taken to tackle the spread of the virus.
Koike also said that this summer would be like no other and Tokyo residents who may be planning summer vacations needed to stay on their guard, intimating that if new restrictions are introduced, they could include urging people to refrain from crossing prefectural lines and encouraging people to refrain from going outdoors.
On Thursday, the metropolitan government requested that bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors from Monday through August close earlier to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Nationwide, the total number of cases increased to 35,461, including around 700 from a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February.
The death toll from the virus stands at 1,020.
