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Delta Variant Now Dominant Strain in Tokyo

TOKYO – The Delta variant has become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the Japanese capital, accounting for an estimated 95 percent of new cases, according to a health ministry advisory board.

Tokyo confirmed another 4,989 novel coronavirus infections on Thursday, the second highest daily count yet.

The latest figure followed a record 5,042 new cases on Aug. 5.

The capital, which is struggling to contain a fifth wave of infections, has been under a coronavirus state of emergency since mid-July. - Florenda Corpuz

(Article cover photo: People wearing face masks walk through the Nakamise shopping street in Tokyo’s Asakusa district on Aug. 7. Photo by Din Eugenio)