Tokyo Sets All-Time High as of Sunday
Cumulative 132 Olympic Officials Confirmed with COVID-19
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] In Japan, where the Olympics are being held, the daily number of COVID-19 cases has exceeded 5,000 again after three days, and Tokyo's daily cases on Sunday reached the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
According to NHK on the 25th, 5,020 new COVID-19 cases were identified in Japan by 6:30 PM that day.
Previously, on the day before the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, the 22nd, the daily new cases reached 5,395, then slightly decreased, but rose again to over 5,000 on the 25th, three days later.
In particular, Tokyo, where the Olympics are ongoing, confirmed 1,763 new cases that day, marking the highest number on a Sunday since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
COVID-19 infections related to the Olympics are also continuing.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee announced that 10 more people involved in the event tested positive for COVID-19 that day. Since the 1st of this month, the cumulative number of confirmed cases among related personnel has reached 132.
Among the newly announced cases on the 25th, two are athletes. NHK reported that they are a male rower from the Netherlands and a male cyclist from Germany.
Additionally, six officials including those from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), one journalist, and one contracted worker tested positive. Of the 10 newly confirmed cases, two were staying in the Olympic Village. Given that athletes live collectively, concerns about the spread of COVID-19 within the Olympic Village are emerging.
Furthermore, complaints from athletes related to the event continue.
World No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic requested that match times be moved to the evening due to difficulties caused by the heatwave. World No.2 Daniil Medvedev also expressed agreement, according to Kyodo News.
In addition, within the Olympic Village, there are complaints about the ceiling being too low, the cardboard beds being unstable, and the lack of TVs and refrigerators in the rooms.
On the other hand, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed that the event is proceeding smoothly.
On that day, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, after meeting with Prime Minister Suga, told reporters, "We confirmed a shared understanding that the Tokyo Olympics are progressing very smoothly."
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