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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese government are making final preparations to hold the Tokyo Olympics even as Japan battles a surge in COVID-19 infections.
Many people in Japan aren’t happy that the Games are going ahead. Under the current state of emergency, Tokyo has logged a seven-day average of 537 new daily COVID-19 infections. While that figure has dipped slightly from one week ago, multiple public opinion polls show that 80 percent of Japanese people support either cancelling or delaying the Games.
The Tokyo Olympics were originally slated for July and August of 2020, but were postponed due to the global spread of the coronavirus. One year on and Japan is grappling with a “fourth wave” of infections. The state of emergency (SOE) in Tokyo has now been extended until June 20, just a month before the capital is due to host the delayed Olympics. Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has said that the next three weeks will be key to stopping
Torch Relay Shrinks as Infections Surge 05/17/21
(ATR) There were no spectators as the Tokyo Olympic torch relay made its way through Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on Monday.
Torchbearers stayed within Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on Monday. (Tokyo 2020)
The segment is the latest in a growing list of torch relay events affected by an expanding state of emergency amid the surge in COVID-19 infections in Japan.
IOC President Thomas Bach was planning to come to Hiroshima to participate in Monday’s torch relay but his trip was postponed last week.
Using a closed park rather than public roads for the torchbearers was first used in Osaka prefecture last month. The prefectures of Fukuoka, Okayama, and Hyogo have also followed suit in taking the relay off public roads. All of the areas are part of the state of emergency currently in place until the end of the month.
Number of serious cases hits record high in Japan
The number of severe COVID-19 cases hit another record high in Japan on Tuesday, adding to the burden of some medical systems in the country.
More than 1,200 patients are now using ventilators or receiving treatment at intensive care units across Japan.
This comes as a state of emergency declaration is in effect in Tokyo, Osaka and seven other prefectures.
Residents are being asked to stay home as much as possible. Bars and restaurants are being urged not to serve alcohol and close early. The measures will be in place until the end of this month.
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The rapid spread of highly contagious variants of COVID-19 has prompted an extension of the current state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and neighboring Hyogo prefecture until the end of May.
A third state of emergency in the capital was issued on April 25, targeting the Golden Week three-day national holiday. It was scheduled to end on May 11. However, a fourth wave of infections shows no sign of abating, with the spread of infections exceeding the peak of the third wave late last year. Tokyo recorded a seven-day average of 637 new daily cases and the largest figure of 1,050 cases on May 1.