Strict corona precautions for the torch relay
The Olympic city of Tokyo is to be put into a state of emergency three months before the summer games due to the sharp rise in infections. The government wants to put the emergency for Tokyo as well as Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefecture into effect from Sunday to May 11th, Japanese media reported on Thursday. A decision should be made on Friday.
During this period, the so-called “Golden Week” falls, a series of national holidays during which millions of Japanese people normally travel. Shortly before the planned Olympic Games, Japan has imposed a state of emergency on Tokyo for the third time. The reason is the rapid spread of new virus variants. In the meantime, there was also a corona infection at the Olympic torch relay.
The organizers announced that a police officer tasked with regulating traffic in southwestern Kagawa Prefecture tested positive for the corona virus one day after starting work. It was said that he wore a mask and kept the safe distance. It is the first case of infection since the torch relay began on March 25th.
The emergency in Japan is not a lockdown. Tokyo, which reported 861 new infections in 24 hours on Thursday, is reportedly planning to urge department stores, theme parks, bars and other businesses to temporarily close. Spectators could also be banned from certain events. Experts warn that new virus variants could lead to a sharp increase in infections in the next few weeks. Japan's vaccination campaign has been slow since the beginning of February.
The organizers of the Olympics are sticking to the plans. In view of the increasing numbers, they want to wait longer than planned before making a decision on admitting domestic viewers. A decision could possibly only be made in June, last confirmed organization chief Seiko Hashimoto. “I think we need a little more time to make an accurate judgment,” she said. Foreign fans and the families of international athletes had previously excluded Japan's Olympic makers.
Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games and Paralympics in the summer. The games had been postponed for a year due to the corona crisis. Because of the pandemic, doubts remain about the event. In Japan, a clear majority recently voted in favor of a new relocation or a rejection. IOC boss Thomas Bach reassured, however, that Tokyo “continues to be the best-prepared Olympic host so far”.
