Photo/Illutration Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa explains his prefectural government's version of the "state of emergency" at a July 16 news conference. (Yushin Adachi)

With just days to go before the Tokyo Olympics kick off, signs are emerging of a “fifth wave” in COVID-19 cases in major urban areas, particularly the capital and Osaka in western Japan.

Tokyo on July 16 reported more than 1,000 fresh cases of novel coronavirus infection for the third straight day. Metropolitan government officials noted that a record 303 were confirmed with the more feared Delta variant.

While Tokyo will remain under a state of emergency until Aug. 22, spreading infections in the three neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama led prefectural authorities on July 16 to decide to expand the geographical range of pre-emergency measures in their jurisdictions.

The Kanagawa prefectural government on July 16 confirmed 446 new cases. The number of cases per 100,000 residents over the most recent week came to 26.1, which exceeded the standard of 25 to demarcate whether a prefecture is in the most serious stage 4 of infections spreading.

Pre-emergency measures had been in place for four Kanagawa cities, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Sagamihara and Atsugi, but those steps will be expanded, effective July 22, to cover all municipalities, with the exception of Kiyokawa village which has a population of about 3,000.

The Kanagawa prefectural government also issued its own “state of emergency” and is asking all establishments to no longer serve alcoholic beverages and close their doors at 8 p.m.

“Infections are surging at a pace similar to the beginning of the year when we were under a state of emergency,” Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa said at a July 16 news conference. “We expect hospital beds for COVID-19 patients to face a very tight situation by the end of July.”

In Chiba Prefecture, new cases rose 1.3-fold over the previous week. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said asking the central government to declare a state of emergency was “a realistic option” if the infection increase rate remained unchanged.

On July 16, the Chiba prefectural government decided to add the cities of Yachiyo and Kamagaya on July 19 to nine municipalities already covered by pre-emergency measures.

Bars and restaurants in those municipalities can only serve alcohol until 7 p.m. and only to parties of one or two individuals who stay for less than 90 minutes.

The Saitama prefectural government is also vastly expanding the number of municipalities covered by pre-existing measures from just Saitama and Kawaguchi. It said 18 municipalities, such as Kawagoe and Tokorozawa, will be added, effective July 20.

“There is a clear increasing trend and new infections are spreading in those areas bordering Tokyo,” Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono said, pointing to new cases topping 300 on July 15 for the first time in about six months.

Bars and restaurants in the affected areas will be asked to only serve alcohol to solitary customers or family groups.

Osaka Prefecture on July 16 recorded its fourth straight day of more than 200 fresh COVID-19 cases, while neighboring Hyogo recorded the fourth straight day of more than 70 new cases.

An advisory panel to the health ministry said an increase in pedestrian traffic was a key factor behind the rise in new cases.

Studies showed July 14 that while nighttime pedestrian traffic gradually fell in Tokyo, there were increases in both daytime and nighttime pedestrian traffic in the three neighboring prefectures.

Health experts raised concerns that infections could spread from the greater Tokyo metropolitan area to all parts of Japan.

Nighttime pedestrian traffic in Osaka has also been on the rise since the state of emergency was lifted on July 11.

The advisory board said it was clear that infections were also on the rise again in the Kansai region.

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