TOKYO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Friday reported 389 new daily COVID-19 cases marking the first time since Sunday new infections have topped the 300-mark.

The latest figure compares with 206 cases confirmed on Thursday and is the highest since 429 infections were reported in the capital on Saturday.

Tokyo, the epicenter of the outbreak in Japan, has now seen its cumulative total of infections rise to 17,069, the highest among the country's 47 prefectures.

Nationwide, total cases have surpassed 52,000.

Of the 389 people testing positive in the capital of 14 million, 226 of them were aged in their 20s and 30s accounting for around 58 percent of the total, the Tokyo metropolitan government said.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has reiterated its calls for Tokyo residents to refraining from traveling outside the prefecture or returning home to visit relatives during the Bon holiday season, as well as refrain from dining out in groups, including small gatherings held in close proximity with others.

Establishments serving alcohol such as restaurants, bars and karaoke parlors have been requested to shorten their opening hours until the end of August and shut their doors at 10:00 p.m. in a bid to curb the further spread of the virus.

The metropolitan government has described the situation in the capital as "extremely severe," with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike saying that a Tokyo-specific state of emergency could be declared if the virus' resurgence continues to worsen. Enditem

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