Japan is considering temporarily excluding Tokyo from its domestic travel program as the average number of new COVID transmissions escalates, sources said Monday. In China the government says it has entered "wartime" mode to combat the latest spread.
A decision to suspend the Go To Travel trips to Tokyo, as well as Nagoya, is expected later Monday.
Japan's Ministry of Health reported 2,562 total deaths as of Sunday. It said serious cases were on the rise - straining hospitals to their limits while affecting daily medical treatment for other patients.
Public health experts want the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to take measures such as suspending out-of-town trips and requesting stores close early to curb the third wave.
Meanwhile, South Korea confirmed 718 new cases, down from 1,030 a day ago. Total infections were 43,484 with 587 deaths. President Moon Jae-in apologized after new daily cases hit a record high over the weekend and asked his cabinet to consider a lockdown.
China reported 16 new cases Sunday, down from 24 a day earlier. Of the new cases, 14 were imported infections originating from overseas. Two new locally transmitted cases were reported in Heilongjiang Province. China said it was grappling with new cases along its border with Russia.
Japan reported a new national record high in new cases by exceeding 3,000 for the first time Saturday - the latest information available - while several cities and prefectures also set new daily highs.
Japan's single-day record for COVID-19 cases is now 3,031, according to public broadcaster NHK. Tokyo set a new daily record for infections with 621, also Saturday. This beat the previous daily high of 602 set Thursday.
Tokyo's tally of serious cases increased to 68 Saturday, an increase of only one case from Friday. Saturday's figures brought Tokyo's cumulative total of COVID-19 cases to 46,745.
Tokyo remains the hardest-hit among the country's 47 prefectures.
Japan citizens in their 20s saw the highest number of new cases at 181. Those in their 30s accounted for 119 cases while those in their 40s had 89. Infections among those 65 or older came to 77 cases.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said there were 1,030 new cases Sunday, bringing the national total to 42,766. Two more deaths brought the death toll to 580. South Korea posted a record high in daily new cases Saturday. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said his government might have to impose its highest-level social distancing rules if the spread doesn't slow. These restrictions include banning gatherings of more than 10 people, closing schools, theaters and department stores and suspending professional sports games.
China has locked down parts of Heilongjiang province in the southeast bordering Russia after half a dozen coronavirus cases were confirmed over the weekend. More than 250,000 people in the cities of Dongning and Suifenhe are affected by the lockdown, which is being enforced by checkpoints and local police. Four cases have been confirmed since last week in Suifenhe and two in Dongning.
Dongning officials said the city will enter a "wartime mode," which means temporarily suspending public bus services and road transport. Restrictions will also require anyone leaving the city to produce a negative COVID-19 test from the preceding 24 hours. Schools will suspend classes and dine-in will be banned at restaurants.
