Japan Sees Largest Daily Spike In Coronavirus Cases

Japan’s Health Ministry has reported a further 64 coronavirus cases in the country, the largest daily increase since the outbreak began.

The total number of cases in within the country’s borders now stands at 780. A further 697 cases are aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship which is quarantined in the Port of Yokohama. To date the virus has killed 22 people on the mainland and an additional seven people aboard the Diamond Princess.

The new cases come from 13 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka.

The situation in Japan is at odds with many other Asian countries, where the situation seems to be easing. In both South Korea and mainland China, which have been the two hardest hit countries in the region, a slowdown in infections has been recorded over the past week.

There have already been calls for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to be cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic, and the recent increase of daily cases in Japan is only making the case stronger. For now though organizers appear determined to move ahead with the original schedule, with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe insisting there would be no delay to scheduled starting date for the games of June 24th.