Photo/Illutration People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus enjoy viewing cherry blossoms at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo on March 30. (AP Photo)

Tokyo reported 7,982 new COVID-19 cases on April 1, up 693 from the previous Friday, as cases remained high in the capital.

The daily average of new cases over the week through April 1 in Tokyo was 7,628.9, or 121.6 percent of the average for the preceding week.

The figure has exceeded 100 percent for the fourth consecutive day.

Nine patients in their 70s to 90s died of causes related to COVID-19 in the capital, authorities said.

Of the 7,982 new cases, people in their 20s represented the largest age group of new patients, at 1,806.

They were followed by 1,410 patients in their 30s, 1,345 in their 40s, 1,151 aged 9 or younger, and 1,029 aged 10 to 19. Officials say 367 patients were aged 65 or older.

Of the 7,982 new cases, 81 were diagnosed as being infected with the novel coronavirus without being tested.

The occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients in Tokyo was 25.8 percent, while 10.4 percent of hospital beds for severely ill patients were filled, officials said.

The metropolitan government said it would consider asking the central government to issue another state of emergency for Tokyo if the occupancy rate of beds for seriously ill patients hits between 30 and 40 percent.

The Tokyo metropolitan government defines seriously ill patients as those requiring ventilators or ECMO heart-lung bypass machines.

The number dropped by two to 30 from March 31.

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