Japan, S.Korea set new daily records, mull steps: Report

Japan’s daily coronavirus cases have exceeded 3,000 for first time while government delays stricter measures for fear of hurting ecomy ahe of holiday season.

3,030 new cases, including 621 in Tokyo, took Japan's national tally to 177,287 with 2,562 deaths, Health Ministry said Sunday.

Experts say serious cases are on rise around country, putting burden on hospitals and affecting daily medical treatment for or patients. y urged authorities to take measures such as suspending out-of-town trips and requesting stores to close early.

Recent media surveys show support ratings for government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga have dropped about 20 points from around 70% during his first three months in office amid public discontent over his coronavirus handling.

Japan issued a n-binding state of emergency in spring and has survived earlier infection peaks without a lockdown. Experts say ongoing resurgence in dry and cold season would be a bigger challenge.

In or developments in Asia-Pacific region:

— South Korea has set ar record for its daily coronavirus tally with 1,030, as authorities struggle to suppress viral spre. Korea Disease Control and Prevention ncy said Sunday ditional cases including two deaths raised national caselo to 42,766 with 580 fatalities. About 80% of new cases were found in densely populated Seoul area, where authorities have shut nightclubs and or high-risk venues, banned late-night dining and taken or steps to slow spre. But such measures have shown little effect. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Saturday his government may have to enforce its highest-level social distancing rules if virus doesn’t slow down. Such restrictions would ban a garing of more than 10 people, shut down schools, aters and department stores and suspend professional sports leagues.

— Chinese authorities have locked down an area of about 200,000 people after a handful of COVID-19 cases were confirmed in rastern province of Heilongjiang. Checkpoints were set up in Dongning, which is on border near Russian city of Vlivostok, and people were told t to leave unless necessary. Bus service has been suspended, schools closed and production halted at factories t making daily necessities. Restaurants were told to stop dine-in service and residential communities to control entry. Six cases have been confirmed since Thursday in Heilongjiang province, including two in Dongning. China has moved swiftly to stamp out any reappearance of virus. National Health Commission reported 24 cases nationwide in previous day. Four were in Heilongjiang and ar in Sichuan province in southwest. or 19 were imported from outside China.