Photo/Illutration Tokyo’s Shibuya scramble crossing on July 16 (Rei Kishitsu)

Tokyo reported a record number of new COVID-19 infections on July 17 with 293 cases confirmed in the capital.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike made the announcement to reporters. The number topped the previous high of 286 in the capital on July 16. 

The number of new cases in Tokyo has remained above triple digits for nine consecutive days.

The record count comes after about 4,700 tests were done on July 13, the highest daily number, according to the government.

It takes about three days for the metropolitan government to collect testing data and release the tally.

On July 14, about 4,000 tests were conducted, officials said.

“Since we are testing more aggressively, the number is expected to continue to rise,” an official said.

The government raised its alert for the pandemic to the highest level of four on July 15.

Young people between the ages of 20 to 39 have accounted for about 70 percent of the new infection cases in July.

But in the past week, children under the age of 10 and elderly people aged 60 or older have also tested positive for the virus. Sources of the infection routes varied, as some were contracted at home, a theater, a dinner party and the workplace.

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