Despite safety protocols in place, officials handling this year’s Tokyo Olympics say there is no guarantee that an outbreak of Covid-19 won’t happen during the international games.
EVEN as Japan ramps up its health protocols in preparation for this year’s Olympic Games, officials are now admitting there is “no way” to ensure that the event will be Covid-19 free.
Tokyo Olympics 2020 photo from The New york Times
Japanese Olympic Committee president Yasuhiro Yamashita made the statement after two members of Uganda’s Olympic delegation tested positive for the virus after arriving in Japan.
"No matter what measures are put in place, there is no way we will have zero positive cases arriving," Yamashita told reporters.
"Even if you've had two vaccine doses, it doesn't guarantee every individual will be negative."
A Ugandan team member, reportedly a coach, tested positive on Saturday (June 26) at Tokyo’s Narita Airport and was quarantined there.
The rest of the nine-person team was allowed to travel more than 500 kilometers on a chartered bus to their pre-Olympics camp in the western prefecture of Osaka.
Three days later, a second Ugandan also tested positive for the virus, forcing seven town officials and drivers who had close contact with the team to self-isolate.
The team members were quarantined at a local hotel.
"In order to make sure no clusters arise, we need to have thorough measures at the border at the time of entry to Japan," Yamashita said, adding that daily virus testing would also help reduce the risk of infections spreading.
Athletes must sign a written pledge promising to abide by antivirus rules in Tokyo, including staying away from tourist areas, shops and bars, limiting contact with other people, and not using public transport.
Yamashita said he hoped athletes would have "positive memories" of the Games, despite "severe restrictions" that mean they can't even leave the Olympic Village to buy souvenirs.
"Of course, the top priority is to make it safe and secure, but I think we need to make an effort to give athletes that kind of space," he added.
Experts have noted a significant increase in the movement of people in Tokyo and other metropolitan areas since the easing of a state of emergency on June 21 and warned of signs of a resurgence of infections in the Tokyo region.
Tokyo on Monday reported 317 new cases, up from 236 from a week earlier, the ninth consecutive day of week-on-week increases, with an increase in cases of the delta variant.
That could accelerate the resurgence to levels that might require another state of emergency during the Olympics, experts said. (ONT)
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