Tokyo spectators wait to cheer on the triathlon relay competitors 31 July Carl Court/Getty imagesTokyo is experiencing a record-breaking increase in covid-19 cases, as thousands of coaches and athletes fly in from all over the globe to attend the postponed 2020 Olympic Games. However, Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan, denies any connection between the event and an increase in infections.Tokyo is currently in its fourth state of emergency. It began on 12 July, ahead of the Olympics. It is expected to continue until 31 August. These measures include a ban on alcohol in bars and restaurants, and reduced hours. Okinawa already has the same measures, and Suga announced that they would be extended to Saitama and Kanagawa as well as Chiba, Osaka, and Chiba. Five other prefectures will also receive less stringent measures: Hokkaido (Ishikawa), Hyogo Kyoto and Fukuoka.The Olympics had been originally scheduled for 2020, but were delayed due to the outbreak of coronavirus. According to data from cases, the Olympics now take place when the country's coronavirus situation has worsened than in the past year.AdvertisementTokyo experienced a sharp increase in covid-19 cases since the beginning of July. Rates last week were nearly doubled compared to the previous week. The city reported 3058 cases of covid-19 on 2 August. Tokyo's infection rate now stands at 88 per 100,000. Only a third of Japan's population is fully vaccinated.More than 10,000 cases were reported in Japan on 29 July. According to Johns Hopkins University data, 12,340 cases were reported on 1 August.Suga stated that if the infection rate continues to rise, severe symptoms will continue and the medical system could be more under strain.Shigeru Omi (chair of the governments coronavirus Subcommittee) told The Japan Times that the outbreak was unlikely to be stopped.Olympics are for people, not just athletesOlympic Games have been reduced from their original plans. Only a third of the 180,000 expected people entered the country for the games. At most events, spectators are prohibited and athletes must wear masks when they are not competing. 27 covid-19 cases related to the games were added on Friday, making the total to 220. One athlete has been forced to leave due to positive tests. Tokyo witnessed protests against the games, with many marching to the national stadium in Tokyo with placards calling for the government's removal of the Olympics.Similar increases in infection rates were observed across Europe during the Euro 2020 tournament. According to the World Health Organization, July saw a decrease in infections compared to previous months. This was due to large numbers of people traveling to matches. Horst Seehofer, Germany's interior minister, stated at the time that allowing crowds was a reckless decision.Kevin Tyler, University of East Anglia (UK) says that there is no evidence of a connection between the games and an increase in infections. Because competitors are tightly bubbled and have high case numbers, the University of East Anglia believes the surge in cases could be due to the Delta variant making its way to Japan.There would normally be concern about the possibility of infecting people from different parts of the world and spreading them. This could lead to the spread of new variants or promote recombination. However, the Olympic planning seems to have taken great care to prevent this and separate athletes from the larger population.The International Olympic Committee did not respond to our request for comment.Continue reading: The UK chose a dangerous route out of the coronavirus pandemic
