Japan posts record daily COVID deaths but new infections slow

TOKYO -- Japan posted its deadliest day in the two-year COVID-19 pandemic, even as new infections from the Omicron-variant fueled wave declined.

Newly recorded fatalities rose to 236 on Tuesday, according to a tally by national broadcaster NHK, exceeding the previous record of 216 on May 18 last year.

Nearly 2,000 people have died of the coronavirus in Japan so far in February.

Tokyo recorded 16 new deaths on Tuesday, most of them 70-90 years old, separate data showed.

Meanwhile, new cases numbered 84,220 across Japan, continuing a decline from record infections posted earlier in the month as Omicron outbreaks spread.