Photo/Illutration Company workers in Tokyo commute to their offices wearing face masks. (Shiro Nishihata)

Fresh COVID-19 cases in Tokyo topped 600 for the first time on Dec. 10, the highest daily figure for the capital, as cases across Japan also set a new record for the second consecutive day.

Metropolitan government officials reported 602 confirmed new infections, breaking the record 584 confirmed on Dec. 5. That followed the second-highest daily count of 572 cases in Tokyo on Dec. 9.

As of 6 p.m. on Dec. 10, the nationwide total of COVID-19 cases reached 2,834, breaking the daily record for the second straight day. There were 2,811 cases on Dec. 9.

In Tokyo on Dec. 10, fifty-nine patients have severe symptoms that require the use of a ventilator or an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device, which circulates blood through an artificial lung. The figure was unchanged from the previous day.

Meanwhile, Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki said on Dec. 10 that the period for special measures to prevent a spread of novel coronavirus infections would be extended until Jan. 15.

The period was to have ended on Dec. 11 but will extend beyond the year-end and New Year period. Suzuki asked residents of the main northern island to refrain from having meals of five or more people lasting more than two hours.

Hokkaido authorities reported 241 new COVID-19 cases on Dec. 10.

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