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TOKYO, July 28-- Japan's number of new daily COVID-19 infections increased by 965 on Tuesday, bringing the nation's cumulative total to 32,229, not including those connected to a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama in February. Tokyo remains the epicenter of the outbreak while concerns over a broader spread of the virus across the country have also been rising. Record daily increases in infections were reported in multiple prefectures on Tuesday. Prefectural authorities started to issue new social restrictions, calling for compulsory measures against certain businesses not following antiviral requirements or refusing to cooperate. Owing to a spike in cases in the western region, the Osaka prefectural government decided to request its citizens to not drink in nighttime entertainment areas where the virus has seen a resurgence. People were asked not to socialize in groups of more than five when drinking. Osaka reported a single-day record of 155 new COVID-19 cases, surging from 87 reported a day earlier, with the western prefecture seeing cases remain in triple-digits for five successive days through Sunday. The Aichi prefectural government, meanwhile, recorded a record single-day tally of 110 new infections. Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura described the predicament as "very serious," urging residents to refrain from conducting nonessential activities. The Tokyo metropolitan government, for its part, reported 266 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, amid rising concerns over the rapid pace of the spread of infections this month. | 
