Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency in Tokyo earlier this morning that will include dates of the Summer Olympics that run from July 23 until August 8:
Olympic organisers are set to ban all spectators from the Games, the Asahi daily said on Thursday, as Japan prepared to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo that will run through its hosting of the event to curb a new wave of coronavirus infections.https://t.co/xWU07pTxFM
— The Wire (@thewire_in) July 8, 2021
They’re worried about an increase in cases during the Olympics:
Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency that would last through the Olympics, fearing an ongoing COVID-19 surge will multiply during the Games. https://t.co/KBRm7MA3PM
— Denver Post Sports (@DPostSports) July 8, 2021
This means “tougher restrictions in the Tokyo area, including having restaurants and bars suspend serving alcohol”:
BREAKING: Sources say the state of emergency will be in place through Aug. 22, and introduce tougher restrictions in the Tokyo area, including having restaurants and bars suspend serving alcohol. https://t.co/NLCRfrHn5s
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) July 7, 2021
The games aren’t canceled. . .
Japan declares state of emergency to last during Olympics, no plans to cancel the games https://t.co/ACZbSSG4oM
— masslivenews (@masslivenews) July 8, 2021
. . .but it’s likely that spectators won’t be allowed:
A fourth emergency likely ends the possibility of spectators at the Olympic Games in venues in Tokyo and surrounding Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures https://t.co/WfgK8NyeST
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) July 8, 2021
They’ve already banned international spectators:
Japan declares COVID emergency in Tokyo, mulls fan-free #Olympics .
Organisers have banned overseas spectators & have set a cap on domestic fans at 50 percent of capacity, to a maximum of 10,000 people.#
Restrictions from July 12th To August 22nd. #Japan https://t.co/RwFCn9zTnZ— Saqib Ul Islam (@SaqibIslam) July 8, 2021
Sigh. They could have moved them to Florida when they had the chance.
***
