Japan's COVID-19 outbreak continues to affect the capital Tokyo and some other prefectures have experienced increasing outbreaks over the past days.
Japan Sees Fifth Day of 1,000 New Cases
On Monday Japan's Ministry of Health recorded 1,331 new COVID-19 infections - a fifth consecutive day the country has logged more than 1,000 new daily infections.
Tokyo remains the worst affected by new case. It recorded 258 new infections but Osaka has been catching up. The Osaka Prefecture recorded 194 new coronavirus cases Monday.
As of Monday there were 39,399 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,025 fatalities from the virus in Japan.
Government Won't Stop Travel During Obon Holidays
In spite of widespread outbreaks the government's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said during a news briefing Monday the government won't stop people from travel during the Obon holidays. Japan has struggled to ensure public health and safety while helping the economy. Travel is important for Japan's economy but some health experts have raised concerns about new transmissions during the upcoming holidays as people move about.
Most of China's New Infections Transmitted Locally
China's health authority reported 43 new COVID-19 cases on the mainland with 36 of those being locally transmitted.
Furthermore, 28 of the new cases were reported in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region where a small outbreak started during the past week. The provinces with imported cases Sunday were Jiangsu, Shandong, Liaoning and Guangdong.
The country has another 257 asymptomatic cases that are being monitored by local health authorities. Of those 102 were outside mainland China.
Singapore's New Community Case a Prison Inmate
Singapore's Ministry of Health on Monday reported 226 new confirmed COVID-19 cases with one community transmission only and nine imported infections. The community case was a prison inmate who arrived in Singapore before the government implemented border entry measures.
According to the ministry the patient was tested by the Singapore Prison Service's screening of new inmates. The inmate was admitted to Changi Prison on July 30.
Most of Singapore's new cases are work permit holders. Since April Singapore has been battling clusters of cases at dormitories housing foreign workers.
As of noon Monday Singapore had reported 53,051 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
South Korea Cases Gradually Decline
Meanwhile in South Korea, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 23 new confirmed coronavirus cases Monday bringing the national total to 14,389.
It was the lowest daily increase in new cases in almost three months following a resurgence in new cases linked to nightlife establishments in Itaewon and among religious groups.
Two days ago the government arrested Shincheonji church leader Lee Man-hee for alleged embezzlement as well as preventing the Daegu government of from obtaining information on church members. South Korea had a large outbreak among followers of the Shincheonji church in February. The local government asked church leaders to provide the identities of followers for contact tracing at that time.
