Tokyo coronavirus cases hit record 949: media

TOKYO (Reuters) – Coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit a record daily high of 949 cases on Saturday, local media reported, as Japan heads into the New Year holiday period, which in normal years sees citizens of the capital stream into the provinces.

Serious cases were unchanged from a day earlier at 81, the reports said.

Local media reported subdued scenes at Tokyo transport hubs a day after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, under pressure as daily cases continue to climb, urged the nation to stay home and avoid social mixing.

(Reporting by Sam Nussey)

Photo – A man wearing Santa Claus costume walks through streets at Ikebukuro in Tokyo, Japan, 24 December 2020 after Tokyo marked new high record 888 cases of the COVID-19 Coronavirus infections per day. The COVID-19 infection cases in Japan has topped 200,000 on 21 December 2020. EPA-EFE/KIMIMASA MAYAMA