Photo/Illutration Takaji Wakita, who chairs the health ministry’s advisory panel of experts on the COVID-19 pandemic, speaks to reporters after its meeting on Oct. 20. (Kai Ichino)

Experts are warning that a recent rise in nighttime foot traffic could halt the steady downward trend in new COVID-19 cases.

The health ministry’s advisory panel of experts on the pandemic expressed concerns at an Oct. 20 meeting that the persistent drop in the number of new infections could slow or even stop.

Ministry data presented at the meeting showed 2.67 new infections confirmed per 100,000 people nationwide over the week through Oct. 19, down 35 percent from a week earlier.

Some experts feared the number of new cases might rise again around two weeks after the COVID-19 state of emergency was lifted for Tokyo, Hokkaido and 17 prefectures on Oct. 1.

Despite those concerns, new infections have continued to decline past that point.

Nighttime foot traffic was up 37.7 percent nationwide after the state of emergency expired, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science.

Pedestrian traffic increased sharply after 10 p.m., particularly in Okinawa Prefecture.

The greater Tokyo area and the Kansai region continue to see a rise in foot traffic, even though it is not as steep as what it was a week after the state of emergency was lifted, the institute said.

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