New Delhi: The Tokyo Olympics organizers on Saturday said that “One person has tested Covid-19 positive at the Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village. In the first such case that adds to concerns about infections at the Games which begin next week.”
Toshiro Muto, CEO, Tokyo Olympic confirmed that “A visitor from abroad who is involved in organizing the Games had tested positive. We will not reveal the person’s nationality, citing privacy concerns.”
Athletes are just starting to arrive for the Games which run July 23 through August 8. The Tokyo Olympic 2020 postpones for a year, because of the coronavirus pandemic across the world, and now it is being held with limited spectators and under tight quarantine rules.
Japan’s public has been lukewarm about the Games amid a resurgence in new coronavirus infections and worries that an influx of foreign visitors may help turn the Tokyo Olympics into a super-spreader event, which in turn could put further strain on Japan`s already stretched medical system.
The bulk of the Summer Olympics will span a total of 17 days, from the opening ceremony on July 23 to the closing ceremony on Sunday, August 8. In total, the Tokyo Games will feature 339 events across 33 sports.
According to Japan-based medical experts, the Situation is not looking great in Japan. A coronavirus state of emergency has been extended in the capital Tokyo and three other major prefectures as cases continue to rise. Yet there’s been no word about canceling the Games, despite both health experts and public opinion being stacked against them
Japan reports around 8.32 lakh cases and approximately 22 to 24 percent of them reported in Tokyo province so far. The Health Authority of Japan claimed 14965 deaths of people who were infected by the deadliest novel coronavirus.