Tokyo to seek COVID emergency based on severe patients' bed occupancy

Tokyo unveiled on Thursday a set of new benchmarks in considering requesting a COVID-19 state of emergency, such as if the rate of hospital bed occupancy secured for patients with serious symptoms has reached a threshold of 30 to 40 percent.Under the new guidelines, the metropolitan government will also look at whether the percentage of COVID patients needing oxygen supply has reached 30 to 40 percent, as the Japanese capital tries to strike a balance in preventing a further strain on the medical system and further affecting economic activity.Tokyo is among 34 of Japan's 47 prefecture under…READ FULL ARTICLE