TOKYO - Tokyo reported on Sunday 260 new cases of the novel coronavirus, with the figure remaining above 200 daily infections for the fifth consecutive day.
The single-day figure followed 385 infections confirmed on Saturday, bringing the capital's cumulative infections to 17,714, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government.
Two elderly women were confirmed dead, taking the total death toll to 340, the Tokyo government said.
The daily figures reflect the most recent totals reported by health authorities and medical institutions.
Daily new infections remain high in other urban areas, with Osaka Prefecture reporting 147 cases, Aichi Prefecture 83 and Kanagawa Prefecture 80.
The nationwide tally amounted to more than 1,010 new cases Sunday, surpassing the 1,000 mark for the fourth day. The country's cumulative total stood at around 56,850.
In Tokyo, people in their 20s and 30s accounted for about 53 percent of the 260 patients, remaining a large part of its recent surge in infections, according to data from the Tokyo government.
As Tokyo has seen new infections in three digits every day this month including a daily record of 472 on Aug. 1, Gov. Yuriko Koike has called for residents to avoid traveling or returning to their hometowns to visit relatives during the summer holiday season around mid-August.
The capital maintains its alert at the highest of four levels, meaning "infections are spreading." It has requested establishments serving alcohol and karaoke venues to close by 10 p.m. through the end of the month to curb the spread of the virus.
