The Tokyo metropolitan government on Tuesday confirmed 143 new COVID-19 infections, with the number staying below the 200-mark for the second straight day but spiking above the 119 cases reported a day earlier.
The previous day's figure marked the first time the number of daily COVID-19 cases had dropped below 200 in five days.
Concerns remain about a resurgence of the virus, however, as clusters of infections have continued to occur at nighttime entertainment establishments in downtown areas in Tokyo including those in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro wards.
Localized clusters on U.S. bases in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa have also triggered concerns, with Japan urging the United States to step up measures to stem the spread, the Foreign Ministry here said Tuesday.
As for Tokyo's effort to combat the spread, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is also in charge of the coronavirus response, said Tuesday that the government is mulling the possibility of issuing business suspension requests to certain nighttime entertainment establishments.
The suspension requests would be issued for nighttime establishments in downtown areas that are not adhering to virus prevention measures, such as proper ventilation, mask-wearing and general sanitation.
Customers will again be asked to not patronize such establishments that are not taking virus prevention measures.
In terms of the government recently allowing the number of people to attend sports, music and other large events to be raised to 5,000 spectators, Nishimura said the central government along with experts would also reconsider this decision.
The metropolitan government said that as for the newly detected cases in the capital, 93 people were aged in their 20s and 30s, with the infection route known in 79 cases, but unknown in 64.
Employees or customers of nighttime entertainment establishments comprised 23 of the total new COVID-19 infections, the metropolitan government said.
