The “Tower of the Sun” in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, is lit up in red after the prefectural government issued a “red alert” in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases on July 27. (Video by Asahi Television Broadcasting Corp.)

Photo/Illutration The “Tower of the Sun” in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, is lit up in red after the prefectural government issued a “red alert” in response to surging novel coronavirus infections on July 27. (Nobuhiro Shirai)

OSAKA--Osaka Prefecture issued a “red alert” on July 27 for the first time since April 24 as the occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients here exceeded the 50-percent threshold.

A red alert marks the most serious level in the prefecture’s status concerning the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The prefectural government also declared a medical state of emergency to urge residents to help prevent the surge in infections from overwhelming the health care system.

The prefecture reported 21,860 new cases on July 27, topping 20,000 for the second straight day. Its daily count hit a record 25,749 cases the previous day.

The occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients rose to 52 percent in the prefecture on July 27, while 58.4 percent of beds for those with mild and moderate symptoms were filled.

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura expressed reservations about asking bars and restaurants to shorten their operating hours to prevent a further spread of the virus.

“It’s unclear if issuing a request for shorter business hours to only eating and drinking establishments will be effective in curbing infections,” he said at a news conference on July 27.

Yoshimura stressed that the prefecture will focus on strengthening measures to prevent elderly people, who are at a high risk of becoming seriously ill or dying, from contracting the virus.

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