Second wave of infections may be emerging in Japan
Baku, May 29, AZERTAC
Restrictions to contain the coronavirus are slowly being eased in Japan and life is starting to get back to normal. But the mayor of Kitakyushu City in southwestern Japan says COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, according to NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corporation.
Mayor Kitahashi Kenji is warning that the situation could get much worse. He said Kitakyushu "will be hit by a second big wave, if this situation continues. We hope that everyone recognizes that we may be heading for a very difficult situation, and respond firmly to get out of this crisis."
No new cases had been confirmed in the city for more than three weeks. But 43 have been confirmed in the past six days. Health officials have not been able to trace the route of infection in some cases.
Tourist spots and other facilities that had reopened closed again on Thursday. That's a disappointment for people who wanted to see Kokura Castle.
Also on Thursday, a possible cluster of infections came to light at a Tokyo hospital.
Tokyo and four other prefectures were the last parts of Japan to come out of a state of emergency. The government made the announcement on Monday.
More than 16,700 people have tested positive in Japan. Over 880 have died.
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