#15,367
Two days ago, in Hong Kong Enacts Tougher Measures As Local COVID Cases Rise, we looked at Hong Kong's week-long rise in locally acquired cases after nearly two months of little to no activity.
Yesterday's numbers were fairly light, with 19 new cases, 14 of which were local, seven of which were of unknown origin. Today's numbers have jumped considerably, to a record 67 cases, including 35 locally acquired cases of unknown origin. Only 4 cases were imported.
Tokyo, Japan also set a new record over the past 24 hours, with 286 cases.
BY RYUSEI TAKAHASHISTAFF WRITERJUL 16, 2020The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 286 new cases of the novel coronavirus Thursday, yet another all-time high following a weekslong surge of infections that began in late June and last week reached a string of record-breaking days.Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters earlier in the day that the capital had conducted more than 4,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the most the city has ever carried out in a single day. Typically — at least in recent weeks — the metropolitan government receives and reports test results about three days after they were administered.
And Victoria, Australia reports a record number (n=317) of cases as well:
Like Japan & Hong Kong, Australia appeared to have the virus well under control only a month ago, but is now seeing a second wave of infection.
While their case counts pale in comparison to what is happening in the United States, India, and Brazil - these reversals of fortune do remind us how tenuous control over the virus can be.
All of which should serve as fair warning to any country or region that thinks they've beaten the virus.
