Tokyo under health emergency with three months to go for Olympics

By Antonio Hermosín Gandul

Tokyo, Apr 23 (EFE).- Tokyo is marking the countdown to the Olympic Games under a fresh health emergency due to a surge in Covid cases, even as major questions remain, such as whether spectators would be allowed in the stands and how to regain the support of Japanese citizens for the event.

With 91 days to go for the Olympics’ opening date of Jul. 23, the Japanese government on Friday imposed a health emergency in Tokyo and three other prefectures, the worst affected by the fourth wave of the pandemic in the country.

This is the third time that Japan has taken this exceptional measure, which includes the temporary closure of businesses such as bars, restaurants, malls and theme parks, apart from bans on crowded events such as sports competitions with an audience.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Friday that the state of emergency would not affect preparations for the Games, adding that the measure was part of Japan’s commitment to organizing safe Olympics.

The health emergency would initially be in effect in Tokyo until May 11, although it can be extended depending on how infections progress, as it happened during the last emergency, which lasted from Jan. 7 to Mar. 22.

The president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach had on Wednesday played down the impending announcement, and said that it would help prevent the virus from spreading during the vacation period in early May.

Bach insisted in a teleconference that Tokyo was well prepared for hosting the Games.

According to Japanese media outlets, Bach is planning to visit the country between May 17-18, just after the state of emergency ends, to express his support for the Games and dispel the incessant doubts over the event being held amid the pandemic.

However, both the organizers and IOC would find it difficult to convince the Japanese public about going ahead with the event.

According to a recent poll by local news agency Kyodo, 39 percent Japanese think the Games should be canceled, while 32 percent believe that they should be postponed again.

Popular support for the Olympics has plummeted during the pandemic due to the fear that it could trigger infections, apart from its growing budget and a series of scandals in the organizing committee.

.Critics fear that potential infections among participating athletes and officials in the Olympics could put additional strain on Tokyo’s medical infrastructure, where the number of beds for serious Covid patients has been flagged as a cause of concern.

Such a scenario, along with the slow rate of vaccination in Japan – with just around 1 percent of the population having been inoculated so far – has led to the organizers banning foreign visitors from the Games.

The hosts are yet to decide whether local audience would be allowed in the stands, although it is seeming highly unlikely at the moment.

The organizers are also yet to specify details of the health protocols for the athletes, including the frequency of Covid-19 tests to be conducted among them and of which type. They are considering carrying out daily saliva tests.

Moreover, it would be recommended but not compulsory for foreign athletes to get vaccinated before traveling to Japan.

Japanese authorities have pledged to vaccinate local sportspersons on a priority basis due to the Games

This measure has triggered a strong opposition in social media, as so far only health professionals and a few thousand citizens above the age of 65 have been vaccinated in Japan. EFE

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