Tokyo, Nov 5, 2020, SPA -- Japan reported over 1,000 new daily coronavirus cases today, on Thursday for the first time since Aug. 21, as the government has eased restrictions and promoted travel within the country to help support the economy hit hard by the pandemic, according to a Kyodo News tally based on official data. The number of additional infections in various parts of Japan has been trending upward in recent days, with some health experts warning that colder temperatures, forcing people into often poorly ventilated indoor environments, are believed to make the virus more transmissible. In addition to Tokyo and Osaka, the number of new cases in Hokkaido, a popular tourist destination, surpassed 100 on Thursday. It is the first time since the outbreak of the virus that the country's northern main island has seen a figure above that level. Tokyo confirmed 269 new infections, bringing its cumulative total to 31,893, the highest by far among Japan's 47 prefectures. "Effectively a third wave has arrived," Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura said, referring to the increase in infections in his prefecture over the past week. --SPA 21:13 LOCAL TIME 18:13 GMT 0017 www.spa.gov.sa/w1442604