Tokyo cannot bear cost of business closures as COVID-19 cases surge

Gov. Koike says city is considering setting up new coronavirus-focused hospitals

20200729 Yuriko Koike

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said that the local government was considering building or using existing facilities to solely treat coronavirus patients in an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review on July 29. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)

RURIKA IMAHASHI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Gov. Yuriko Koike said Wednesday asking restaurants and shops to close will be a "huge burden" for Tokyo's finances as the city faces a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Koike made the remarks in an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review. Tokyo reported another 250 new infections on Wednesday, the 21st consecutive day that its daily count has reached above 100. Koike also said that Tokyo is mulling a new medical facility to deal solely with the resurgence of cases.

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