Japan warned of coronavirus ‘third wave’, as cases soar in Hokkaido and Tokyo
- Japan’s Covid-19 task force released an emergency declaration urging preventive measures to avoid a health crisis during the colder winter months
- Hokkaido, a popular destination that was the centre of a major outbreak during the Snow Festival in February, has seen a record number of cases
In total, over 108,000 cases have been reported nationwide and the statistics hint at a growing “third wave” of infections during winter.
Hokkaido appears to be leading that trend, with at least 160 cases on Tuesday and a record 200 new cases on Monday, surpassing the previous high of 187 new cases on Saturday. Across Japan’s largest prefecture, 4,198 people are being treated and experts warn that hospitals are already coming close to capacity.
“This is a really serious problem for Hokkaido as temperatures and humidity levels are dropping, meaning that people are keeping their windows closed to keep the warmth in and we know that it is easier for the virus to spread in a closed environment,” said Yoko Tsukamoto, a professor of infection control at the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido.
