Some medical experts unconvinced about holding Tokyo Games – ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS – Arab Times Kuwait English Daily

Some medical experts unconvinced about holding Tokyo Games – ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS – Arab Times Kuwait English Daily

TOKYO, March 30, (AP): The Tokyo Olympics open in under four months, and the torch relay has begun to crisscross Japan with 10,000 runners. Organizers say they are mitigating the risks, but some medical experts aren't convinced. “It is best to not hold the Olympics given the considerable risks,” Dr Norio Sugaya, an infectious diseases expert at Keiyu Hospital in Yokohama, told The Associated Press.

“The risks are high in Japan. Japan is dangerous, not a safe place at all.” Sugaya believes vaccinating 50-70% of the general public should be “a prerequisite” to safely hold the Olympics, a highly unlikely scenario given the slow vaccine rollout in Japan. Fewer than 1% of the population has been vaccinated so far, and all are medical professionals. Most of the general public is not expected to be vaccinated by the time the Olympics open July 23.

“Tens of thousands of foreigners are going to be entering the country, including mass media, in a short period of time,” Sugaya said, “the challenges are going to be enormous.” The Japanese government and local Olympic organizers have said vaccination is not a prerequisite for the Olympics, although the International Olympic Committee is encouraging the 15,400