Tokyo records 16,538 new COVID-19 cases for third day

Tokyo reported 16,538 new cases of COVID- 19 on Thursday, rewriting its record for the third day as the spread of infections of the omicron variant shows no signs of slowing down.

The figure exceeded the previous day's tally by over 2,000 when the capital reported 14,086 cases.

The occupancy rate for hospital beds for COVID 19 patients in Tokyo was 44.4% on Thursday.

Yuriko Koike said the capital would seek a full state of emergency if the bed occupancy rate exceeds 50%.

The seven day average of daily cases in Tokyo was 11,762. 1 reported a week ago.

The number of severely ill patients under Tokyo criteria remained unchanged from Wednesday at 18. Three new deaths from COVID 19 were reported in the capital.

On Wednesday, Japan reported 71,634 new cases, surpassing 70,000 for the first time.

New cases hit a new high in 33 of Japan's 47 prefectures on Wednesday, with all but Iwate Prefecture reporting 100 or more cases.