Japan confirmed 17,196 COVID-19 infections as of 5:20 p.m. local time on Thursday, with 4,989 cases in Tokyo, as the number of severely ill patients strike a record high for the capital, local media reported.

The number of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms under the metropolitan government's standards increased to another record high of 218, up from 197 on Wednesday. Tokyo has secured 392 beds for seriously ill patients.

Infection cases were climbing not only in the Tokyo metropolitan area but also in other regions. The prefectures of Osaka, Shizuoka, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara, Ehime, Kumamoto and Kagoshima reported record numbers.