[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the Japanese government has decided to allow spectators at the Tokyo Olympics, the daily number of COVID-19 cases in Japan has reportedly dropped to the lowest level in the past three months, in the 800s. However, the situation is still not at a level to be fully reassured, so controversy over allowing spectators at the Tokyo Olympics is expected to continue.
According to the tally of new COVID-19 cases announced by Japanese health authorities and reported by NHK on the 21st, as of 6 p.m. that day, 868 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed nationwide in Japan. NHK reported that this is the lowest number since March 22, when 816 cases were recorded. The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 786,837, with a total of 14,474 deaths.
By region, the Tokyo Metropolitan area, the host city of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, recorded the highest number of new cases at 236, followed by Kanagawa Prefecture in the metropolitan area with 135 cases, and Chiba Prefecture with 85 cases. Earlier that day, the Japanese government and related organizations including the Tokyo Olympic Committee announced in an online meeting that the number of spectators allowed inside the Tokyo Olympic venues would be limited to within 10,000.
Amid controversy both inside and outside Japan, the Japanese government lifted the COVID-19 state of emergency that had been declared in nine metropolitan and prefectural areas including Tokyo from that day, and began applying the pre-emergency "Priority Measures to Prevent Spread" in seven metropolitan and prefectural areas including Tokyo. However, since the COVID-19 situation in Japan is still not completely safe, the controversy over allowing spectators at the Olympics is expected to persist.
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