Surging Covid-19 cases in Tokyo have hit a two-month high that nearly guarantees the Japanese government will declare a replacement state of emergency to start out next week and continue for the duration of the Tokyo Olympics.
The pandemic-delayed Olympics open in only over a fortnight on July 23.
IOC President Thomas Bach is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday when he is going to be greeted by the rising cases as he self-isolates for 3 days within the International Olympic Committee’s five-star hotel within the capital.
A new state of emergency — less strict than a blanket lockdown — could lead to a ban even on local fans. that call on fans is predicted on Friday when local organizers meet with the IOC et al..
The present quasi-state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last Wednesday. it’s the very best total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with key ministers to debate virus measures and reportedly is considering reinstating a state of emergency within the capital until August 22. The Olympics endways August 8.
Suga didn’t confirm the report but noted Tokyo’s upsurge and vowed to try to do “everything we will to stop the further spread of the infections”.
Suga said he would make a final judgment on Thursday after consulting with a panel of experts.
Fans from abroad were banned from attending the Olympics months ago. But just a fortnight ago, organizers and therefore the IOC decided to permit venues to be filed to 50% of capacity but to not exceed 10,000.
The soaring cases are likely to mean that venues are going to be with no fans, although sponsors et al. may have access. The no-fan atmosphere could include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium.
“The infections are in their expansion phase and everybody during this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters.
He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures before the Olympics with summer vacations approaching.
“The period from July to September is that the most crucial time for Japans Covid-19 measures,” Omi said.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters that she expects the govt to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo, a fourth for the capital since the pandemic began early last year.
Separately, a government Covid-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the continued resurgence of the infections.
“Two-thirds of the infections within the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is that the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
Earlier on Wednesday Toshiro Muto, the chief executive of the organizing committee, said organizers were striving to make sure safety for everybody with effective public health measures against Covid-19.
Muto, addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by a recorded video, added: “Through the successful hosting of the Tokyo 2020 Games, we hope to point out the planet that folks have the proper to measure healthier and happier lives, even in difficult circumstances.”
