Japan could be forced to turn around in the face of Olympic crowds | Tokyo Olympics 2020

Japan could be forced to reverse its decision to allow up to 10,000 local sports fans to attend events at this summer’s Olympics, as a rebound in coronavirus cases has made restrictions in place less likely. in Tokyo can be lifted, as planned, before the games begin.

The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced last month that attendance would be capped at 50% of a venue’s capacity, or up to 10,000 spectators. They had already decided not to allow foreign visitors to attend.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the absence of spectators remains an option, with the number of Covid-19 infections rising steadily since he ended the full state of emergency in the capital and in other areas towards the end of last month.

“I made it clear that it was possible not to have spectators,” said Suga. “We will take action with the safety and security of people as a priority. “

Tokyo reported 673 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, up from 570 on the same day a week earlier. It was the 12th consecutive day of weekly hikes. Tokyo infections topped 700 for the first time since late May on Wednesday.

Japanese media reported on Friday that the IOC and other parties will meet on July 8 to discuss the spectator ceiling, with Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper saying fans may be banned from Olympic events held at night or at larger venues. .

There are growing fears that the arrival of tens of thousands of athletes, journalists, officials and other Games-related staff will trigger a new wave of infections after the Olympics open on July 23, despite assurances from organizers that they have taken steps to ensure a “safe and secure event”.

Tokyo is under “quasi” emergency measures that include demands that restaurants and bars stop selling alcohol at 7 p.m. and close an hour later. But the restrictions, which are due to be lifted on July 11, have not stopped the increase in cases.

The Olympic participation ceiling depends on the exit of Tokyo from the virtual state of emergency before the start of the Games. The government could reinstate comprehensive emergency measures for Tokyo depending on the pressure exerted by the increasing number of cases on the city’s hospitals, Reuters said citing a government source.

On Thursday, Dr Mitsuo Kaku, medical adviser to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, said the situation in the capital was becoming “critical” as the latest upsurge was caused by the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus.

A study released this week indicates that in the most optimistic scenario, new cases in Tokyo could reach 1,000 per day in July and 2,000 in August. If there is an acceleration in infections during or after the Games, the use of hospital beds in the capital could reach its limit in August, according to university researchers and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.