Tokyo Olympic torch staffer turns into occasion’s first COVID case

A police officer serving to with Japan’s Olympic Torch Relay has grow to be the primary participant associated to the occasion to be identified with COVID-19.

The man in his 30s examined optimistic for the virus after engaged on the relay in Kagawa prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Shikoku, Tokyo 2020 organisers mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.

The officer was guiding visitors within the city of Naoshima on Saturday and got here down with a fever the next day, the Asahi Newspaper reported, citing organisers and prefectural police.

The man wore a masks and had no contact with runners, the report mentioned.

Separately, two runners, a TV persona and a former Olympian dropped out of a relay occasion as a result of be held within the western prefecture of Tottori subsequent month, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Public assist for the postponed Olympics has waned amid concern the occasion will exacerbate COVID-19 infections, now battering the nation in a fourth wave.

Japan’s authorities is predicted to declare a state of emergency, the third previously yr, within the main inhabitants centres of Tokyo and Osaka this week.

The Games, already delayed by one yr, are as a result of begin in 92 days. Olympic and authorities officers have mentioned additional postponement of the Games is out of the query.

Currently, Japan can be fighting a relatively sluggish rollout of the vaccine which has to this point accredited solely the Pfizer-BioNTech model.

About 25 % of 4.8 million healthcare employees and barely greater than 13,000 aged folks have to this point acquired a primary vaccine dose.

Japan’s authorities says they are going to have ample provide by September to vaccinate everybody above 16 years of age within the nation of 125 million, however a timeline for finishing the vaccinations isn’t but clear.

Despite the issues, Olympic organisers insist the Games will be held safely and have launched virus rulebooks to allay public fears.

Athletes won’t be required to quarantine or be vaccinated however must restrict actions and be examined repeatedly.

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