TOKYO– Many schools in Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa began temporarily closing yesterday, in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 among young people, the prefectural government said.

According to the local government in Okinawa, the closures are applicable to the majority of high schools and junior high schools, as there is a surge in COVID-19 infections among younger people.

Japan’s southernmost prefecture is currently under a state of emergency, and the latest measure to tackle the spread of the virus, involving closing schools, will be effective through Jun 20.

According to the prefectural government, of all 183 COVID-19 cases reported Sunday, teenagers and younger people comprised around 20 percent of the total.

Okinawa confirmed 104 new daily COVID-19 cases, according to the latest figures released last night, bringing the total to 18,603.

This compares to 235 new infections reported in Tokyo and 173 in its neighbouring prefecture of Kanagawa, figures from the health ministry and local authorities showed.

Nationwide, Japan’s total tally of infections, since the outbreak, reached 763,785, with 1,278 additional cases confirmed yesterday.

The death toll has now topped 13,600, last night’s figures showed.

The southern subtropical island, a lure for vacationers, has seen a surge of infections of late, and has logged the highest number of new cases per capita among Japan’s 47 prefectures.

As such, Okinawa’s medical facilities have been buckling under the strain, with some patients unable to secure a hospital bed, and forced to self-quarantine at home, according to local accounts.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK