Photo/Illutration Tokyo’s Shinjuku district where the Tokyo metropolitan government headquarters is located (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

After dropping slightly the previous two days, the number of new COVID-19 infections in Tokyo rose above 300 again on Aug. 4 with 309 cases reported, according to Tokyo metropolitan government officials. 

That marks the eighth consecutive day the capital has reported more than 200 new cases. 

There were 22 patients with serious symptoms, an increase of seven from the previous day.

About 60 percent of the patients were between 20 and 40, with 130 individuals in their 20s and 63 in their 30s. Another 40 were in their 40s, while 25 were in their 50s.

Tokyo officials said there has been an increasing spread of COVID-19 within families. On Aug. 3, 27 of the 258 cases were spread within a family.

 “I hope families living with senior citizens will be especially careful and take various measures, such as having meals at different times or using different toothpastes,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters on Aug. 3.

On Aug. 2, the number of cases in Tokyo was 292. That followed the daily records set in the capital on July 31 and Aug. 1 with more than 450 new cases each day.

Those rising numbers prompted a request from the Tokyo metropolitan government to have bars and restaurants as well as karaoke parlors close each day at 10 p.m. from Aug. 3 until Aug. 31.

Establishments that totally comply with the request will receive a special stipend of 200,000 yen ($1,900).

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