The reason is the highest level of new infections since mid-May. The state of emergency applies until August 22nd, the summer games start one day later.
During the Olympic Games, the corona emergency will again prevail in Tokyo. As expected, the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga decided on Thursday. The state of emergency will apply from next Monday until August 22, it said. The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 23rd to August 8th. The reason for the now fourth state of emergency for Tokyo are again significantly increasing numbers of corona infections.
However, the state of emergency is not a lockdown with tough curfews like in other countries. While citizens are called upon to stay at home if possible, restaurants are not allowed to serve alcohol, offer karaoke and have to close earlier than normal in the evening.
Many people in Japan fear that the games could turn into a super-spreader event. Japan's Olympic organizers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have always emphasized that everything will be “safe”. However, possibly without a spectator. Japan's organizers want to make a decision on this with the central government, the city administration of Tokyo as well as the IOC and the Paralympic Committee – according to the media on Thursday.
