The Tokyo metropolitan government reported a record 678 daily coronavirus cases Wednesday, amid a recent resurgence of infections across Japan.
The figure, which topped the previous high of 621 marked on Saturday, brought the total number of infections confirmed in the capital to 48,668.
Nearly 3,000 cases were reported by local authorities across the country the same day, bringing the cumulative total to over 188,000. The death toll now stands at about 2,750.
The number of COVID-19 patients has been running high since mid-November in Tokyo, the hardest hit of the country's 47 prefectures, and surpassed 600 for the first time on Thursday last week.
The seven-day rolling average of new infections in Tokyo stood at 534.4 on Wednesday, after topping 500 on Sunday for the first time since the start of the pandemic, according to a tally based on official data.
As part of efforts to curb infections, the Tokyo government decided earlier this week to extend its request for restaurants, bars and karaoke establishments serving alcohol in most parts of the capital to adopt shorter business hours through Jan. 11.
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