<p>New coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit a record high of more than 1,300 on Thursday raising fears of an explosion in cases, local media reported, and New Year's Eve celebrations were curtailed as the country battles a third wave of the pandemic.</p>.<p>Scores of flights were also cancelled as heavy snowfall hit several areas of Japan on Thursday.</p>.<p>Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has urged people to celebrate New Year quietly, and avoid non-essential outings, amid the twin crises.</p>.<p>Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled or planned to cancel a total of around 140 flights, public broadcaster NHK reported, adding that a bullet train had suspended services in some parts of the northern Yamagata prefecture.</p>.<p>A 70-year-old man died in the northern Iwate prefecture after he apparently fell into a river while trying to shift show with a shovel loader machine, NHK said.</p>.<p>Japan has been battling a third wave of Covid-19 infections in recent weeks and on Monday started barring the entry of non-resident foreign nationals after detecting variants of the virus from Britain and South Africa.</p>.<p>Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Wednesday the government may have to consider declaring a state of emergency if the number the Covid-19 cases grow.</p>.<p>Japan's Imperial Household Agency has cancelled an annual New Year's event set for Jan. 2, at which Emperor Naruhito and other imperial family members were due to greet well wishers.</p>.<p>People have been asked to stagger visits to shrines, traditionally popular destinations over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.</p>.<p>In Tokyo, where the governor has warned of a potential explosion in Covid-19 cases amid record daily increases, extra train services will be suspended from late Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.</p>.<p>"I want to emphasis again that there is no New Year holidays for the coronavirus. I urge people to spend quiet holidays staying at home with families," Kyodo news agency quoted Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike as telling reporters on Thursday.</p>.<p>Prime minister Suga will meet relevant ministers including Health Minister Norihisa Tamura and Economy Minister Nishimura later on Thursday to discuss Tokyo's coronavirus situation, local media said.</p>.<p>About 3,400 people have died in Japan from around 231,000 cases during the pandemic so far.</p>
<p>New coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit a record high of more than 1,300 on Thursday raising fears of an explosion in cases, local media reported, and New Year's Eve celebrations were curtailed as the country battles a third wave of the pandemic.</p>.<p>Scores of flights were also cancelled as heavy snowfall hit several areas of Japan on Thursday.</p>.<p>Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has urged people to celebrate New Year quietly, and avoid non-essential outings, amid the twin crises.</p>.<p>Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled or planned to cancel a total of around 140 flights, public broadcaster NHK reported, adding that a bullet train had suspended services in some parts of the northern Yamagata prefecture.</p>.<p>A 70-year-old man died in the northern Iwate prefecture after he apparently fell into a river while trying to shift show with a shovel loader machine, NHK said.</p>.<p>Japan has been battling a third wave of Covid-19 infections in recent weeks and on Monday started barring the entry of non-resident foreign nationals after detecting variants of the virus from Britain and South Africa.</p>.<p>Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Wednesday the government may have to consider declaring a state of emergency if the number the Covid-19 cases grow.</p>.<p>Japan's Imperial Household Agency has cancelled an annual New Year's event set for Jan. 2, at which Emperor Naruhito and other imperial family members were due to greet well wishers.</p>.<p>People have been asked to stagger visits to shrines, traditionally popular destinations over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.</p>.<p>In Tokyo, where the governor has warned of a potential explosion in Covid-19 cases amid record daily increases, extra train services will be suspended from late Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.</p>.<p>"I want to emphasis again that there is no New Year holidays for the coronavirus. I urge people to spend quiet holidays staying at home with families," Kyodo news agency quoted Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike as telling reporters on Thursday.</p>.<p>Prime minister Suga will meet relevant ministers including Health Minister Norihisa Tamura and Economy Minister Nishimura later on Thursday to discuss Tokyo's coronavirus situation, local media said.</p>.<p>About 3,400 people have died in Japan from around 231,000 cases during the pandemic so far.</p>