The Governors of Tokyo, Japan and its three neighbouring prefectures met for a  discussion about the possible extension of the incumbent state of emergency due to an unabated increase in new Covid-19 cases. Japan reported 868 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the city's total infection tally to 98,439 as on Friday. The number of patients designated as in a 'Serious condition' is 147, which was 150 on Thursday, informed a local health official. 

Due to increased strain and growing numbers of infected patients and hospital running out of beds, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said" "We need to take strict precautions, as the number of people testing positive remains high". Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa said that the medical care system in the prefecture "remains extremely strained". The concerns by the Governors is due to the medical experts who pinpointed that the virus situation in Tokyo remains extremely severe, despite recent daily cases showing a slight decline. 

Medical experts advise the metropolitan government  to be ready for highest level on its four tier scale. The experts highlighted the fact that the average is about three times higher than the peak reached in the second wave of infections that hit last summer. Japan has so far reported a total of 384,670 coronavirus cases, while the death toll stood at 5,611. 

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