Tokyo on Thursday raised its coronavirus alert level to the second-highest on its four-tier scale due to the spread of the Omicron variant around the capital.
The alert level hasn't reached this level since September 2021.
The decision comes after the city registered more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
Wednesday's figure was the first time for the daily cases to surpass the 2,000-mark in four months.
On Sunday, Japan stepped up coronavirus restrictions in three regions that host U.S. military facilities, after Omicron outbreaks at the bases spilled into the surrounding communities.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated Tuesday that Japan will maintain strict border restrictions through February to slow the spread of Omicron.
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