Tokyo, Dec 19, 2020, SPA -- Tokyo reported today, on Saturday 736 daily cases of novel coronavirus, the second-highest daily increase, bringing the monthly tally, already above the record cases logged last month, to 9,951, Kyodo reported. Saturday's daily figure is the largest since the record 822 was confirmed on Thursday. Total cases in December so far have surpassed the 9,857 cases for the full month of November, with the cumulative figure at more than 50,000. The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday raised its alert regarding the strain on the medical system to the highest of four levels. It is the first time the most severe level has been reached since the outbreak of the virus. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has urged people to take increased anti-virus measures during the year-end and New Year holiday period. --SPA 03:41 LOCAL TIME 00:41 GMT 0026 www.spa.gov.sa/w1470310