Yuriko Koike: Last News

Mark Schilling Japan CorrespondentTokyo governor Yuriko Koike announced Wednesday that the city government is upping its coronavirus alert to the highest level on a one-to-four scale. This is in reaction to a rising number of infections, which increased by 165.From early July, there have been more than 100 new infections almost daily in Tokyo, reaching a high of 243 on July 10, with many traced to nightlife businesses in Shinjuku and other districts in the city center.On Tuesday, Japanese media reported that a stage play in Shinjuku featuring boy-band members had become the source of 37 infections at latest count, including five staffers, 16 actors and 21 audience members.

Tom Felton is getting back into character as Draco Malfoy.

Two quarantined hotels full of people infected with coronavirus have been using robots to clean rooms and distribute food.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a month-long state of emergency Tuesday for Tokyo and six other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the coronavirus as the number of infections surges. But the move came in the form of a stay-at-home request — not an order — and violators will not be penalized.

TOKYO — As speculation mounted that a spike in infections would trigger a lockdown in Japan's capital, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike singled out live music venues and nightlife spots as breeding grounds for the coronavirus.At a press conference on Monday, Koike said that bars, clubs and karaoke parlors are high-risk areas because they are often enclosed and don't have good ventilation.