Photo/Illutration Local residents write letters of “STAY HOME” with rakes on the beach in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, on April 27. (Yosuke Fukudome)

For the first time in April, the number of daily novel coronavirus infections in Japan dipped below 200, with 172 reported as of 10:30 p.m. on April 27.

That brought the total number of cases in Japan to 13,611. Some parts of the nation reported no new cases, although that may be attributable to the low rate of testing and the length of time in getting a result.

On April 27, there were 22 deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus across the nation, including six in Tokyo and three in Chiba Prefecture. That raised the total death toll in Japan to 394. 

In Tokyo, there were 39 new infection cases, marking the first time the daily number has dipped below 40 since March 30, when 13 new cases were reported.

However, Mondays tend to see fewer reported cases because most hospitals are closed on weekends.

“We should not be too optimistic about the situation just yet," said a Tokyo government official. 

Tokyo recorded the most new cases across Japan, followed by 35 in Hokkaido, 30 in Osaka Prefecture and 15 in Kyoto Prefecture.

Nagoya has confirmed no new cases for three days in a row while Gifu Prefecture has seen no new cases for four consecutive days.

In Aichi Prefecture, no cases were reported for the first time since March 15.

Setagaya Ward Mayor Nobuto Hosaka announced on April 27 that a company official in his 50s, a resident of the ward, died on April 11 while waiting for the result of his coronavirus test.

After the man exhibited symptoms, he called the consultation center for COVID-19 in the ward but his call did not go through.

“I apologize for the man being unable to get through, and I am feeling responsible for it,” the mayor said. 

According to Hosoka, the man had a fever on April 3. He called the consultation center on April 3 and 7, but was unable to talk to anyone.

Later, his primary care doctor called the Setagaya health center, which referred him to a hospital. On April 9, he underwent the virus test but died in his room on April 11 while waiting for the result, which was positive.

At that time, the consultation center had only three telephone lines and callers had a difficult time getting through. Subsequently, the center added three more lines and increased the number of the personnel from April 13.

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