The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday lowered its coronavirus alert by one notch on its four-tier scale as weekly infections have marked a downward trend.
The four-level virus warning system was introduced on July 2, and the metropolitan government raised the alert to the highest level, meaning "infections are spreading," on July 15.
It was at that time when the local government confirmed 165 new COVID-19 cases in the capital.
The second-highest level, where the alert level now stands, means "caution is necessary" against a resurgence of infections.
The decision to lower the alert level was reached by the Tokyo metropolitan government after consultations to assess the exact virus situation in the capital of 14 million with public health and infectious disease experts.
During the consultations, Masataka Inokuchi from the Tokyo Medical Association, explained to those convened that the average number of new cases in the past week had decreased to 149, compared with 183 in the previous week.
Inokuchi warned, however, that the pace of decline remains slow and the situation requires continued vigilance, adding that a fresh resurgence of COVID-19 cases would result in the alert level being raised back to the highest level.
The decision to lower the alert level, however, came as the local government reported 276 new virus cases on Thursday, bringing the capital's cumulative total to 22,444, the highest among Japan's 47 prefectures.
The number is a distinct increase of Monday's tally of 77 daily infections, which marked the lowest number of new infections since July 8 and the first time in two weeks that cases had remained below the 100-mark.
Infections in Tokyo have briefly climbed above both the 300 and 400-mark, with the peak reached on Aug. 1 at 472 new daily infections.
"We need to remain vigilant for a possible resurgence," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told a press conference on the matter, adding that residents in the capital and people coming to Tokyo must keep their guard up against the virus.
Koike also said there was a need for the city to expand social and economic activities while keeping up efforts to combat the coronavirus.
She indicated that the metropolitan government next Tuesday plans to withdraw its request for establishments serving alcohol, such as restaurants, bars clubs and karaoke parlors, in the capital's 23 central wards, to close by 10 p.m.
In terms of those hospitalized by the virus and designated as "severely ill," the metropolitan government reported on Thursday that the numbers had dropped by one compared to a day earlier to 23 patients.
The metropolitan government has maintained its assessment for 10 weeks that medical facilities in Tokyo have "been under prolonged strain and are in need of support."
