Tokyo reports record 888 daily coronavirus cases

TOKYO, Dec. 24 Kyodo - Tokyo reported a record 888 daily coronavirus cases Thursday, amid growing concern over the strain on the medical system as the country faces a resurgence of infections. The figure, exceeding the previous record of 821 logged on Dec. 17, brought cumulative infections in the capital to 54,018. The monthly figure for infections in Tokyo in December has topped 13,000 and already surpassed the total for November, when the previous high of 9,850 was logged. The Tokyo metropolitan government has since Dec. 17 raised its alert regarding the strain on the medical system to the highest of four levels, and has asked residents to refrain from nonessential travel. Restaurants and bars that serve alcohol have been asked to shorten their business hours by closing at 10 p.m. across Tokyo, the hardest hit of the country's 47 prefectures. ==Kyodo