Japan recorded its highest daily increase in new Covid-19 infections since the pandemic began, reporting 12,341 new cases on Saturday, according to the country’s public broadcaster NHK.
Ten out of Japan’s 47 prefectures recorded their highest new daily cases, NHK reported.
The Japanese capital city of Tokyo saw a record high 4,058 new cases Saturday, according to Tokyo Metropolitan Government data.
The number of coronavirus cases linked to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has risen to 241 — up 21 from the previous day — according to Games organizers.
This comes as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday extended the state of emergency for the Tokyo Metropolitan area and Okinawa amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Tokyo and Okinawa were under a state of emergency until August 22, but Suga has now extended it until August 31.
Suga also expanded a state of emergency to four other prefectures — Saitama, Chiba, Osaka and Kanagawa — in effect until August 31.