Japan expands virus restrictions as infections surge

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced new measures against the coronavirus Wednesday, as omicron cases hit a record high in the capital. Tokyo and a dozen other areas in Japan will face new COVID-19 restrictions effective Friday. The measure will put the 13 areas under a three-week restraint through February 13.

New daily coronavirus infections in Tokyo rose to 7,377 cases on Wednesday, its highest since a previous record of 5,908 on August 13.  But the soaring case numbers are not yet straining the city's hospitals.  Only about one-quarter of available beds have been filled in Tokyo and serious cases account for just 2% of all hospitalizations.