Photo/Illutration Staff members of the Center to Support Recovery at Home in Tokyo talk to COVID-19 patients over the phone on Jan. 31. (Shinnosuke Ito)

Tokyo confirmed 14,445 new COVID-19 cases on Feb. 1 with the occupancy rate of hospital beds designated for virus-infected patients in the capital rising to 50.7 percent. 

That puts the rate above the 50 percent threshold, at which point the metropolitan government is expected to consider asking the central government to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo. 

However, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has previously made clear that her decision on whether to request the central government to declare a state of emergency for the capital would not be solely based on the occupancy rate of hospital beds, by saying, "Hospital beds are occupied by patients with various symptoms, including severe or moderate ones. I will take everything into consideration."

The daily average of new cases in Tokyo for the week ending Feb. 1 stood at 15,397, about 1.6 times the number for the preceding week, which was 9,675.

Around Japan, numerous prefectures reported record COVID-19 cases on the day, with Osaka Prefecture logging 11,881 new cases. That broke the prefecture's previous record of 10,350 set on Jan. 29.

Aichi Prefecture logged 5,751 fresh cases, surpassing its record of 5,613 reported on Jan. 29.

In Hyogo Prefecture, 4,944 new novel coronavirus cases were reported, topping its previous record of 4,721 confirmed on Jan. 29.

Gunma Prefecture reported 1,172 new cases of COVID-19, setting a record daily tally for the prefecture.

Okayama Prefecture logged 1,055 new cases, surpassing its previous record of 924 recorded on Jan. 30 and topping the 1,000 mark for the first time.

Gifu Prefecture tallied 1,049 fresh COVID-19 cases, breaking its previous record and also marking the first day to exceed 1,000.

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