Former WHO Senior Advisor and Japanese Doctor: "Not the Situation to Hold the Olympics"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Kenji Shibuya, a Japanese doctor who served as a senior advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), expressed the opinion that Japan is not in a situation to hold the Olympics due to COVID-19.

According to the Tokyo Shimbun on the 27th, Shibuya stated in an interview with the newspaper, "It is not a situation where the Tokyo Olympics can be held."

He mentioned, "Looking at the reality, COVID-19 has not been contained within Japan, medical personnel are severely lacking, and it is difficult to respond to any further spread of infections."

Mr. Shibuya evaluated, "In a situation where variant viruses are spreading worldwide, even if the event is held without spectators, it is risky for nearly 100,000 athletes and related personnel to come to Japan without quarantine and with insufficient vaccines."

Regarding the Japanese government's plan to provide vaccines to athletes and strictly limit their movements within Japan to suppress the spread of infection, he pointed out a loophole, saying, "Except for developed countries, vaccination is not progressing well in many countries, and among Olympic entrants, there are people who have not been vaccinated."

In addition to the delay in securing vaccines, Mr. Shibuya criticized the Japanese government and others for not engaging in scientific and constructive discussions about the conditions under which the Olympics could be held.

He warned that overreliance on the existing approach, which depends on voluntary cooperation from residents such as social distancing and refraining from going out, would devastate society, and he recommended increasing vaccination and expanding testing.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shibuya, who holds a medical license, served as the director of the Institute of Public Health at King's College London (KCL). This month, he was appointed as the director of the COVID-19 vaccination medical center established in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.