Tokyo, Aug 20 (TIWN) The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday reported 339 new coronavirus cases, with daily infections in the Japanese capital topping 300 for the first time in five days.

The figure, which is up sharply from the 186 infections logged Wednesday, pushed the cumulative tally in the capital to 18,607, with 347 deaths. The result was based on 6,005 tests conducted on Monday. Thirty-six people are in serious condition, up by four from a day earlier.     People in their 20s and 30s made up 54 percent of all new cases reported Thursday. The metropolitan government has raised its alert for the pandemic to the highest of four levels, meaning infections are spreading. Karaoke venues and drinking establishments that serve alcohol are also being asked to close by 10 p.m. until the end of this month.  Japan is in the middle of the second wave of infections, Kazuhiro Tateda, President of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, said Wednesday, adding that he is worried about a twin pandemic of COVID-19 and influenza this coming winter.