Regions near Olympic host Tokyo to seek Covid-19 emergency s… – MENAFN.COM

Regions near Olympic host Tokyo to seek Covid-19 emergency s… – MENAFN.COM

An IOC volunteer shows a sign to Sweden's delegation members reminding to respect the Covid-19 countermeasures during the men's preliminary round group B handball match between Sweden and Portugal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo. AFP (MENAFN - Gulf Times) Governors of three prefectures near Olympics host Tokyo will ask the government to declare states of emergency for their regions, a cabinet minister said on Wednesday, after Covid-19 infections spiked to a record high in the Japanese capital. Tokyo recorded 2, 848 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, the highest since the pandemic began, and media reported authorities had asked hospitals to prepare more beds for patients amid a surge driven by the Delta variant. The sharp rise in infections may dampen enthusiasm for the Games - taking place under unprecedented conditions, including a ban on spectators in most venues - despite a rush of medals for Japanese athletes. The surge may also spell trouble for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, whose support ratings are at their lowest since he took office last September, ahead of a general election this year. Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is leading Japan's Covid-19 response, told a parliamentary panel