Photo/Illutration Officials from the public health center in Tokyo’s Minato Ward answer calls from COVID-19 patients recuperating at home on Aug. 15. (Yosuke Fukudome)

Tokyo reported 276 COVID-19 patients in serious condition on Aug. 17, the eighth consecutive day the figure topped its previous high, according to metropolitan government officials.

The number of serious cases in the capital requiring ventilators or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, also known as an ECMO lung bypass machine, was up eight from Aug. 16.

Officials confirmed 4,377 new infections on Aug. 17, up 1,765 from a week ago. The number is the highest ever for a Tuesday.

The daily infection numbers set records in at least six prefectures as of 6 p.m., including Osaka and Aichi, which reported 1,856 and 967 new cases, respectively. 

Eight new deaths from the novel coronavirus, including three people in their 30s to 40s, were also reported in Tokyo the same day.

The 4,377 infections brought the daily average of new COVID-19 cases in the capital over the week through Aug. 17 to 4,527.1, an increase of 13.8 percent from the preceding week.

On average, 10,054 diagnostic tests were conducted in Tokyo over the three days through Aug. 16.

Of the 4,377 latest cases, 1,326 patients were in their 20s, followed by 917 in their 30s, 736 in their 40s and 503 in their 50s. Patients aged 10 to 19 accounted for 416 cases, while 166 were 65 or older.

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