Japan hits one million COVID-19 cases as Olympics host Tokyo posts another record high
Japan has reached the milestone of one million coronavirus cases, with infections soaring in Tokyo and other urban areas as the country struggles to contain the Delta variant.
New cases in Tokyo on Friday hit 4,515, the second highest after Thursday's record 5,042, while the neighbouring, populous prefecture of Kanagawa saw its cases soaring to more than 2,000, quadrupling in less than two weeks.
Infections in Osaka, the biggest city in the country's west, also rose to a record-breaking 1,310, in a sign the pathogen is quickly spreading outside Tokyo.
The total number of cases since the pandemic began last year is now above one million, tarnishing the country's early success in containing the disease.
While the contagion appeared to quickly spread from the capital to other regions, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga struck a cautious tone on expanding a state of emergency to the entire country.
"We need to take into account local conditions. Each region can take their own step," Mr Suga told reporters.
Still, the worsening health crisis is likely to put pressure on Mr Suga ahead of an election that must be held by October.
Mr Suga also said any decision on whether to allow spectators in the Paralympics, scheduled on 24 August-5 September, will be made after the end of the Olympics on 8 August.
Mr Suga reiterated that he did not think holding the Games contributed to rising infections.
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