In Japan, corona infections are rising unchecked - during the Olympics, of all times.
There have never been so many cases since the pandemic began.
Tokyo - Even before the start of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the Japanese government recorded a rapid increase in corona cases.
The fourth health emergency was declared for the capital Tokyo.
The delta variant triggered a fifth wave of infections.
And so the competitions started for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games without a spectator.
Shielded from spectators, athletes from all over the world are now fighting for Olympic medals.
Despite all the safety measures, several athletes tested positive for Corona.
However, the number of infections among the Olympic guests is relatively low.
Tokyo, meanwhile, continues to report record values - they mostly affect Japanese.
Olympia: Japan extends corona emergency
Over 4,000 corona cases per day have now been reported in Tokyo.
More than ever before.
In January, the highest value was recorded with 2520 cases.
Now the Japanese government is pulling the emergency brake again.
One week after the start of the Olympics, Japan extended the state of emergency for Tokyo and Okinawa until August 31.
In addition, the health emergency was extended to four other prefectures.
The health emergency in Japan is less severe than in other countries.
There are no exit restrictions.
Bars and restaurants are no longer allowed to serve alcohol and must close at 8 p.m.
At events, the number of participants is limited.
+
Corona case numbers in Japan are exploding, as can be seen on the Our World in Data graphic.
© Screenshot World of Data
Corona in Japan: Olympic Games a risk factor?
The government continues to urge citizens to stay home and watch the Olympics on TV.
Many citizens are tired of the state of emergency being extended again and again, reports
tageschau.de.
And: The Olympic Games and the success of Japanese athletes have set many Japanese in motion.
The Olympic flame and the new Olympic stadium attract many people every day, reports the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(FAZ)
.
Souvenir photos would be taken there.
Critics complain that the games, which are non-stop broadcast on all TV channels in Japan and at which the Japanese athletes achieve great success, are helping to prevent younger Japanese people from taking the coronavirus so seriously.
According to the
FAZ,
experts consider
these indirect effects to be the greatest corona risk of the Olympic Games.
However, IOC President Thomas Bach does not see the Games as a pandemic driver - on the contrary.
"With all due respect, it is very, very far-fetched to explain a corona infection number by saying that people are so enthusiastic that they accept an infection for it," said the head of the International Olympic Committee, as
reported by the
AFP
news
agency
.
Corona crisis in Japan: "The fire is raging"
"The fire is raging," said Shigeru Omi, a senior advisor to the Japanese government: "We have to focus on getting it under control as soon as possible." Japan is facing the "greatest crisis" of the pandemic, the former official added the World Health Organization (WHO).
(ml)
List of rubric lists: © kyodo / dpa
