At the start of the Olympic Games, Tokyo reports a new record of COVID cases

The Japanese capital registered a new daily record of coronavirus infections four days after the start of the Olympic Games, whose cancellation is not contemplated in any case, as reaffirmed by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 2,848 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, which is the highest number to date, displacing that registered last January, when the country was going through the second wave of infections.

The data once again show that infections are on the rise in the host country of the Games, and they arrive in the middle of the competition inaugurated on the 23rd and with the Japanese capital under a state of health emergency.

“Enjoy the Olympics on television”
The Japanese prime minister wanted to downplay the figures and their possible impact on the international Olympic event, responding negatively to a question from the local media about whether the Government contemplated a cancellation of the Games in case the infections continue to rise.

“We are taking measures to reduce the movement of people,” said Suga, who called on the Japanese “to stay at home and enjoy the Games on television.”

The Japanese leader pointed out that most of the new infections, around 70%, are people between 30 and 40 years old, and also stressed that more and more infections of the new delta variant are observed, in statements to the media after hold a meeting with your Cabinet.

The governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, underlined on her part the worrying increase in people with severe symptoms in the capital, noting the importance of young people “getting vaccinated as soon as possible.”

In Japan, only 25.5% of the population has received both doses of the vaccine, the vast majority over 65, according to the most recent government data.

Japanese medical experts have been warning of a foreseeable increase in infections both in Tokyo and throughout Japan that would exceed 3,000 cases in the capital between the end of July and the beginning of August, due to the data on the incidence of the virus and the detection of the most contagious strains.

Across the country, the number today surpassed 7,000 cases for the first time since May and approached more than 8,000 last January, when the virus spread rapidly both in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures.

The Japanese Executive, before this scenario and with a view to the celebration of the Olympic Games, decided to declare a new state of health emergency from July 12 to August 22, by which time the sporting event will have concluded.

This exceptional measure, which the Japanese Executive has resorted to for the fourth time since the beginning of the pandemic, mainly entails restrictions for bars and restaurants, which are nevertheless having an uneven following among businesses.