Tokyo Olympics Organizers said on Saturday that one person tested positive Coronavirus disease In the Athlete’s Village, this was the first case that occurred in a location where most athletes would live, which raised new doubts about the promise of a “safe and reliable” Games.
Organizers confirmed that a foreign tourist involved in organizing the Olympics had tested positive in a routine test on Friday. For privacy reasons, the nationality of this person was not disclosed.
The 2020 Olympics have been postponed for one year due to the global pandemic. There are currently no spectators for most of the time and they are held under strict quarantine regulations.
As the Olympics approach, the COVID-19 outbreak among the Tokyo Olympic teams raises concerns
With the return of the new coronavirus infection, the Japanese public has been enthusiastic about the Olympics and worried that the influx of tourists may cause super-spreading incidents, which will strain the already stretched medical system. Only about 20% of the population is fully vaccinated.
Seiko Hashimoto, chairman of Tokyo 2020, acknowledged the public’s concerns.
“I know there are still many worrying factors. Organizers must work hard to ensure that people understand that these games are safe,” she said at a press conference on Saturday.
So far, more than 40 people participating in the Olympics, including domestic and foreign, have tested positive. The latest case is the first in the 44-hectare athlete’s village on the Tokyo waterfront, where most of the 11,000 contestants will live.
Athletes have just started participating in the Olympic Games from July 23 to August 8.
A key part of the anti-infective measures is the daily saliva testing of participating athletes and frequent testing of other people participating in the event. The movement of tourists will also be monitored and restricted.
However, there are signs that organizers have found the rules difficult to enforce, and Ugandan weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko disappeared at the team training ground in Osaka on Friday.
According to the Olympic organizers, the authorities are still looking for him. The media reported that he left a note saying that he wanted to stay and work in Japan because life in Uganda is very difficult.
(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
