Tokya (Japan), January 27: Japan on Tuesday confirmed 3,852 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nation's cumulative total of infections to 373,044 as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologized for rising numbers of infected patients dying outside of hospitals.Health officials reported 104 COVID-related deaths on Tuesday, with the nationwide death toll now totaling 5,311 people.
According to the health ministry, the number of patients designated as being "seriously ill" stood at 996, dropping by 21 from the previous day.
The Tokyo metropolitan government, meanwhile, reported 1,026 new COVID-19 cases in the capital, bringing the city's cumulative total of infections to 95,534.
The latest figure marks the first time in three days the number of infections has surpassed the 1,000-mark and compares to 618 new COVID-19 cases confirmed the previous day when the daily tally in the city of 14 million dropped below the 700-mark for the first time since Dec. 28.
The metropolitan government also said the number of patients designated as being "seriously ill" stood at 148 patients, equaling the number reported the previous day.
Recent data from the health ministry showed that the number of people self-quarantining after contracting the virus climbed from 1,096 carriers on Nov. 4 to 6,429 on Dec. 9, before surging to 17,484 on Jan. 6, and 35,394 last Wednesday.
With Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) reporting Monday that the number of COVID-19 infected people dying outside of hospitals and medical facilities had increased significantly, Suga offered his apologies Tuesday.
"As the person in charge, I'm very sorry for the people who died at home," Suga said.
The Japanese prime minister also acknowledged that a number of flaws in the medical system have contributed to an already overburdened system.
Source:Xinhua
