New coronavirus cases have surged to 1,308 in Tokyo - a six-month high - as fears rise of a possible dramatic increase that could flood hospitals during the Olympics that start in eight days.

Tokyo is under a fourth state of emergency, which began on Monday and requires restaurants and bars to close early and not serve alcohol through the Olympics, which start from July 23.

The tally is the highest since 1,485 cases were recorded on Jan 21 when Japan was under an earlier state of emergency and is also a jump from Wednesday’s 1,149 cases.

Read more from AP here.

A man and a woman wearing face masks visit the rooftop park of a commercial building across from Tokyo Station, right, in Tokyo, Japan, July 15. — AP
A man and a woman wearing face masks visit the rooftop park of a commercial building across from Tokyo Station, right, in Tokyo, Japan, July 15. — AP

Opinion

Editorial

Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....
Battling hate
Updated 15 Mar, 2026

Battling hate

In the current scenario, geopolitical conflict, racial prejudice and religious bigotry all contribute to the threats Muslims face.
TB drugs shortage
15 Mar, 2026

TB drugs shortage

‘CRIMINAL negligence’ is the phrase that jumps to mind when one considers the disturbing consequences of the...
Chinese diplomacy
Updated 14 Mar, 2026

Chinese diplomacy

THERE are signs that China is taking a more active role in trying to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism...