Tokyo COVID-19 Cases Surge... Japanese Prime Minister Says "Olympics May Be Held Without Spectators"

Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] Ahead of the Olympic opening, as COVID-19 cases surge in the host city Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga once again mentioned the possibility of holding the games without spectators.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 1st, Prime Minister Suga told reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence that "holding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games without spectators is also possible," and added, "We will prioritize the safety and peace of mind of the people in our response."

He explained that the method of accommodating spectators will be decided in a five-party meeting involving the government’s COVID-19 response team, the organizing committee, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), among others.

The previous day, Tokyo’s daily new COVID-19 cases surpassed 700. This is the first time in 35 days that the number has reached the 700s.

The Japanese government is scheduled to decide by the 11th whether to extend the "Priority Measures to Prevent Spread" imposed on Tokyo and 10 other prefectures. Amid this, voices calling for an extension are increasing as the number of new cases over the past week has reached level 4, indicating an "explosive spread of infection."

Prime Minister Suga emphasized, "We need to make a decision around next week," and added, "We will respond properly with vigilance and caution."

Yamauchi Natsuo, leader of the coalition ruling party Komeito, also met with reporters after a campaign speech for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on the same day, saying about the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, "I hope they consider holding the games without spectators and communicate clearly to the public without missing the opportunity," and appealed, "Please thoroughly implement concrete measures to ensure safety and peace of mind."

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