LOC12:07
09:07 GMT
TOKYO, July 8 (KUNA) -- The number of Japan's new coronavirus infections rose by 254 to 20,363 over the last 24 hours as of 04:00 pm (0700 GMT) on Wednesday, the health ministry and local authorities said. The country's death toll increased by three to 981.
Tokyo added 75 new infections, falling below 100 for the first time since July 1, which brought the total cases in the Japanese capital to 7,048.
The country completely lifted a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus late May.
Economic Revitalization Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura reiterated Wednesday the current situation does not meet the standard for the government to immediately to reintroduce the state of emergency.
"Recent new infections have been relatively reported among young people and the number of severely ill patients is low. There is no strain on the medical system," Nishimura, who is in charge of the coronavirus response, told reporters.
But the minister pointed out an increase in the number of untraceable infections as well as a steady rise in new virus cases among older people, stressing the need to respond with a sense of crisis.
The tallies exclude those who were linked to the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in February. (end)
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