TOKYO (JAPAN) – After the number of daily infections crossed 1,000 for the first time, the country is bracing for a surge in the number of cases. This comes a week after a national campaign was kickstarted to boost domestic travel.
On Wednesday, there were as many as 1,264 new cases, according to the NHK. The infections are spreading in Tokyo as well as other regions, including isolated islands.
Iwate prefecture in northern Japan, which was the only region to be free from the virus, reported its first case on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rolled out the campaign to revive domestic tourism on July 22 despite the spread in coronavirus cases.
A WHO panel member said the campaign came at the wrong time, creating a dilemma for those who are afraid of contracting the virus, and yet want to resume business.
“It’s become a habit for me to check the number plates of cars to see whether they come from outside the prefecture. I’m not going to lie, I get a bit shocked when I see that someone’s visiting from far away,” said Keiko Tsukahara, who runs a hotel in town of Nikko famed for its hot springs.
“But we have had zero income for the past few months and we need customers.”
On the other hand, Mutsu Mayor Soichiro Miyashita ordered the closure of and other tourist attractions over the prolonged holiday last weekend.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
