To use this site, please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page.
This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content, and analyzing our website traffic. By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies.
Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Courtesy of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases The omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is seen in an electron micrograph.
Jiji Press
17:03 JST, November 23, 2022
Tokyo (Jiji Press) — The pace of increase in new coronavirus cases in Japan has shown signs of slowing, suggesting the possibility of hitting a peak any time soon, a government advisory panel said Tuesday.
The number of new cases in the week through Monday rose 1.18-fold from the previous week, a milder weekly increase.
However, infection situations vary among regions. New cases fell week on week in Yamaguchi and Tokushima prefectures while surging especially in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region.
At a press conference, panel head Takaji Wakita, also chief of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, warned that new cases may plateau or rise again after stopping increasing because people will become busier toward the end of the year.
“Japan may face a simultaneous spread of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza when school activities resume after the year-end and New Year holidays,” he added.
At the day’s panel meeting, the NIID presented its new projections that the XBB and BQ.1 omicron variants would account for 5% and 13%, respectively, of the total new cases to be confirmed in the week from Monday.
