The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients has fallen below the 1,000-mark for the first time in eight months.

The metropolitan government on Thursday held a meeting of its expert panel tasked to analyze and assess the infection situation and medical service system in the capital.

Officials reported that as of Wednesday, the seven-day average of new infection cases stood at 866, and 802 people were hospitalized.

Experts warned that occupancy rates of hospital beds for seriously-ill patients remain at a high level in intensive care centers. They also said the trend in new cases should be carefully monitored.

They decided to keep alert levels both for the infection situation and medical service provisions at the second lowest.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko urged people to be vigilant by taking preventive measures, such as ensuring proper ventilation and washing hands, even if coronavirus and influenza infections are on the decline.