Pedestrians wearing protective face masks cross a road in the Roppongi district of Tokyo, Japan, July 30, 2020. (SHOKO TAKAYASU / BLOOMBERG)

Japan is trying to both contain a resurgence of the coronavirus outbreak and support the economy, especially the tourism sector, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. 

Striking a balance is “extremely difficult,” Suga said Sunday on public broadcaster NHK. 

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The government is helping businesses avoid bankruptcies through virus relief measures such as special loan programs.  

The government will maintain a travel campaign that excludes Tokyo to support domestic tourism, a key growth driver for regional economies, he added. 

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After its initial success in containing the first wave of Covid-19, Japan recently has had a spike in the number of new infections.  

Tokyo announced a record number of new coronavirus cases for a third straight day on Saturday, with an additional 472 infections.