TOKYO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Japan's daily COVID-19 cases on Tuesday surpassed the threshold of 100,000 for the first time in two months, local media reported.
This came after the government scrapped COVID-19 border controls and introduced a domestic travel subsidy program in a bid to spur inbound and local tourism last month, Kyodo News reported.
As the nation braces for the eighth wave of infections, the figure recorded on Tuesday was the highest since Sept. 14, when the daily caseload stood at 100,260, the report said.
Tokyo reported 11,196 cases, surpassing the 10,000 threshold for the first time in two months, while Hokkaido, the northernmost main island and a popular tourist destination, reported a record 10,906 cases.
The Japanese government in October lifted its restrictions on individual passengers, spontaneous trips, and daily entry caps.
It also launched the National Travel Discount program, which provided subsidies of up to 11,000 yen (about 79 U.S. dollars) per person for a maximum of seven nights. ■
