As the number of infections increases, Japan may extend Tokyo’s COVID-19 restrictions-Source Reuters

Author: Takemoto Yiwen

TOKYO (Reuters)-Four government sources said on Thursday that Japan may extend coronavirus control measures in the greater Tokyo area by two weeks or more, as the number of infections began less than a month before the start of the Summer Olympics rising.

The Japanese capital and three neighboring prefectures are in a “quasi” state of emergency, which will continue until July 11, but the recent increase in infections has made officials tend to maintain restrictions-a move that may affect the audience allowed to enter The number of sources said that the Olympic venues.

According to sources, depending on the degree of pressure on the medical system, the government may restore a full-scale emergency in Tokyo. The number of new infections in the Olympic host city rose to 714 on Wednesday, the highest level in more than a month.

According to sources, a decision is expected to be made around July 8, when Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, will arrive in Japan.

The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23, but many people in Japan still oppose hosting the Olympics. Medical experts warn that this may trigger another wave of infections.

The “quasi” state of emergency limits the number of spectators to 5,000. Organizers of the Olympic Games stated that if the emergency restrictions are lifted, spectators will be allowed to accommodate up to half of the venue’s capacity or up to 10,000 people.

Sources said that spectators from overseas have been banned, and some members of the ruling coalition have begun to agree that there will be no spectators at the Olympics.