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TOKYO As embattled Tokyo Olympics organizers enter the final six months of preparations for the delayed Games on Saturday, virus experts believe hosting the world’s biggest sporting event may be too big a gamble.
The Olympics are due to start on July 23 but with much of Japan in a state of emergency and growing public opposition, organizers are under increasing pressure.
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Japan has been less severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic than many other advanced economies, but a recent surge in cases spurred it to close its borders to non-resident foreigners and declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and major cities.
Tokyo Games may be too big a gamble, disease expert says Reuters 21/01/2021
By Jack Tarrant
TOKYO (Reuters) - As embattled Tokyo Olympics organisers enter the final six months of preparations for the delayed Games on Saturday, virus experts believe hosting the world s biggest sporting event may be too big a gamble.
The Olympics are due to start on July 23 but with much of Japan in a state of emergency and growing public opposition, organisers are under increasing pressure.
Japan has been less severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic than many other advanced economies, but a recent surge in cases spurred it to close its borders to non-resident foreigners and declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and major cities.
The threat of Japan's hospital system collapsing amid surging coronavirus cases forces Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to expand a state of emergency so it covers about 55 per cent of the country.
Local governments in Japan worried as they prepare for vaccinations
Kazuyoshi Nakaya and Shunsuke Matsuda, The Japan News
Jan. 13, 2021
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Preparations for rolling out coronavirus vaccinations nationwide are underway. During a press conference on Jan. 7 when Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared another state of emergency for Tokyo and three other prefectures, he said that vaccination is a trump card in the measures against infections. Administering vaccinations is a big project for the country, with 50 million people prioritized to receive inoculation, but local governments - who will play a leading role - are growing concerned.
Speeding up coordination
The Japanese government has reached agreements with three foreign pharmaceutical companies to supply a combined total of 145 million doses of coronavirus vaccines. The vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. could be approved as early as February.