Osaka Prefecture confirmed on Sunday 593 new coronavirus cases, after reporting a single-day record of 666 cases the previous day, continuing to eclipse that of Tokyo, amid growing concerns over a rebound in infections.
The latest tally comes before new, quasi-emergency measures will take effect in the prefecture along with Hyogo and Miyagi prefectures on Monday. The three areas had been designated by the central government as needing stronger measures given the rise in virus numbers.
The steps, including fines for eateries that ignore orders to shorten their operating hours, will be effective for one month.
The western Japan prefecture has surpassed the Japanese capital for six straight days in daily number of infections. For Sunday, Tokyo logged 355 new cases.
The previous record high in Osaka was 654 reported on Jan. 8 during the third wave of the pandemic.
On Sunday, the National Governors' Association held an online meeting and compiled a set of proposals to the central government, calling for stronger measures to combat the nationwide spread of the virus variants as well as a spate of cluster infections in the fourth wave of the pandemic.
