As of 11 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 5

• Daily coronavirus cases confirmed in Tokyo reached a record 5,042 on Thursday, topping the 5,000 mark for the first time, the metropolitan government said, as a resurgence of the virus places a strain on the medical system in Japan.
  
  
• An outspoken central Japan mayor has drawn fire after biting the Olympic gold medal won by a member of the Japan softball team, with the act described as "lacking respect" for the athlete and "insensitive" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  
• The organizing body of the Tokyo Olympics said Thursday 31 more people associated with the games have tested positive for COVID-19, setting a record for the second straight day and bringing the total since the start of July to 353.
  
  
• The cumulative worldwide total of infections with the novel coronavirus has surpassed 200 million as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to rage in many countries, U.S. university data showed Wednesday.
  
  
• World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday called on some advanced countries to suspend their ongoing or planned administration of third shots for the novel coronavirus until at least the end of September, saying fair access to COVID-19 vaccines among all countries is a higher priority.

As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4

• Japan's daily total of COVID-19 cases surpassed 14,000 on Wednesday, setting another record just days after hitting the previous high, as concerns grew over the strain on the medical system in Tokyo, where the Olympics are being held.
  
  
• Japan's population declined to 126.65 million as of Jan. 1, dropping by the biggest number and margin since 2013, reflecting a fall in resident foreigners due to tighter border controls resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Wednesday.
  
  
• China has had 144 medium- and high-risk regions for the novel coronavirus outbreak, reaching a record high since the Asian country started to implement anti-epidemic measures on a regular basis, state-run media said Wednesday.
  
  
• Fears are mounting that another wave of novel coronavirus infections in China may prevent the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics from being held in a complete form, along with the threat of a games boycott by some nations over human rights issues.
  
  
• The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday confirmed a record 4,166 daily coronavirus cases, as Tokyo struggles to contain a resurgence despite being under its fourth COVID-19 state of emergency since July 12.
  
  
• The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee said Wednesday five confirmed COVID-19 cases among the Greek artistic swimming team are the first cluster of infections in the athletes' village.
  
  
• The administration of President Joe Biden said Tuesday that it has now donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to more than 60 countries, claiming it a "major milestone" that cements the United States as the global leader in COVID-19 vaccine donations.

As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 3

• Japan reported 12,017 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, the second highest on record, adding to growing concerns about hospital bed shortages, with some doctors criticizing the government's response.
  
  
• The Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic, has locked down parts of the city, after local authorities confirmed three new cases of the highly contagious Delta variant, state-run media reported Tuesday.
  
  
• Eighteen more people associated with the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total since the start of July to 294, games organizers said Tuesday.
  
  
• The Japanese government said Monday it will tighten border controls for travelers from three U.S. states, Finland and some other areas in response to the spread of highly contagious variants of the novel coronavirus.

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - July 24~30

 

Italian track cyclists wave to the crowd after winning gold in the Tokyo Olympic men's team pursuit on Aug. 4, 2021, at Izu Velodrome in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, the only indoor venue that admits spectators from the general public during the Tokyo Games amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo