Excluding the presence of spectators in Tokyo for the Games

No spectators will be admitted during the Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo. The Japanese media reported this, explaining that the measure will probably also concern the three surrounding prefectures, Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama. The decision was made by the governing council that met today, composed of the president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, the president of the organizing committee Seiko Hashimoto and the governor Yuriko Koike, together with the minister for sport Tamayo Marukawa.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, confirmed today that the government will declare a new state of emergency in Tokyo for the Covid pandemic that will remain in force for the duration of the Olympics, which will take place from 23 July to 8 August. The state of emergency, as anticipated yesterday, will last until 22 August. In formalizing the extension of the 'quasi' state of emergency for the capital Tokyo and the three adjacent prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, as well as the prefecture of Osaka, Prime Minister Suga opened the possibility of a possible early withdrawal if the situation on infections should improve. The new provision will officially enter into force from Monday, but in fact extends the existing measures,which oblige commercial activities - including bars and restaurants - to anticipate closing times and prohibit the sale of alcohol after 19:00. In five other prefectures of the archipelago - Aichi, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka - the near-state of emergency will be abolished, while on the island of Okinawa the provisions will be more stringent due to the criticalities present in the hospital system. This is the fourth state of emergency since the beginning of the pandemic for the capital, due to the progressive increase in positivity, now for the 19th consecutive day. The decision also coincides with the arrival in Tokyo of the president of the International Olympic Committee (CIO), Thomas Bach, who landed today at Haneda airport. In the evening Bach will discuss online with the president of the organizing committee,Seiko Hashimoto, and governor Yuriko Koike, to update the new guidelines regarding the limits of access to local spectators allowed during the races. In the last 24 hours, the capital has registered 896 new cases of coronavirus, 26.9% more than the daily average of the last seven days.