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Japan and South Korea set new daily Covid-19 records

New cases in Japan have breached 3,000 in a day for the first time.

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Japan’s daily coronavirus cases have exceeded 3,000 for the first time as the government delays stricter measures for fear of hurting the economy ahead of the holiday season.

The 3,030 new cases, including 621 in Tokyo, took Japan’s national tally to 177,287 with 2,562 deaths, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.

Experts say serious cases are on the rise around the country, putting a burden on hospitals and affecting the daily medical treatment for other patients. They urged authorities to take measures such as suspending out-of-town trips and requesting stores to close early.

Global Covid-19 cases and deaths
(PA Graphics)

Japan issued a non-binding state of emergency in the spring and has survived earlier infection peaks without a lockdown. Experts say the ongoing resurgence in the dry and cold season would be a bigger challenge.

Elsewhere, South Korea has set another record for its daily coronavirus tally with 1,030, as authorities struggle to suppress the viral spread.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Sunday the additional cases, including two deaths, raised the national caseload to 42,766, with 580 fatalities.

Virus Outbreak South Korea
A medical worker wearing protective gear at a coronavirus testing centre in Seoul (Lee Jin-man/AP)

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Saturday his government may have to enforce its highest-level social distancing rules if the virus did not slow down.

Such restrictions would ban a gathering of more than 10 people, shut down schools, theatres and department stores and suspend professional sports leagues.

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