Tokyo reports jump in coronavirus cases, many linked to nightclubs

The Japanese capital saw 47 new Covid-19 cases, with 18 linked to nightlife establishments in Shinjuku. This is the biggest daily jump since May 5

Japan’s state of emergency declaration was lifted on May 25, and authorities are working to prevent a second wave of infections in the nightclub district

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A street in Tokyo's Shinjuku area is crowded with people on Sunday, June 14. The metropolitan government confirmed that a number of new coronavirus infections were linked to the city’s nightlife district. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 9:38pm, 14 Jun 2020Updated: 9:37pm, 14 Jun 2020

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Sunday confirmed 47 new coronavirus infections, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said, marking the largest daily figure since May 5.

Of the figure, 18 people were traced to nightlife establishments in the Japanese capital.

The Tokyo government is asking people working at nightclubs and similar entertainment establishments to regularly take coronavirus tests, as part of new measures to stem the spread of the virus in nightlife districts in the capital such as Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike speaks to the media on Sunday. Photo: Kyodo

“Through active testing, [I hope that] people would be conscious of their infection and would not transmit the virus to others,” Koike told reporters after meeting with economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

The 18 were found to be positive for the virus due to group testing. Sunday’s daily figure was more than the 24 new cases confirmed the previous day, of which four cases came from nightlife spots in the Shinjuku entertainment district.