Japan declares State of Emergency for Tokyo Olympics

Increasing COVID-19 cases in Tokyo can almost guarantees the Japanese government will declare a new state of emergency to start next week and continue for the duration of the Tokyo Olympics. The event of Olympics were delayed due to pandemic and now it will be open in just two weeks on July 23.

IOC President Thomas Bach is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday, when he will be greeted by the rising cases as he self-isolates for three days in the International Olympic Committee’s five-star hotel in the capital.

Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last Wednesday. It is the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13. 

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with key ministers to discuss virus measures and reportedly is considering reinstating a state of emergency in the capital until Aug 22. The Olympics end on Aug 8. He said, “to do everything we can to prevent the further spread of the infections.” 

“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters of Indian Express. 

Ryuji Wakita, Director-General of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases said“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas.”