Olympics-First COVID case found at athletes' village, raising fears ahead of Games
Reuters
July 17, 2021 12:30 MYT
July 17, 2021 12:30 MYT
A police officer wearing a face mask stands in front Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games signage at the Main Press Center during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan, July 16, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
TOKYO: A person has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Tokyo Olympics athletes' village, organisers said on Saturday, in the first such case that adds to concerns about infections at the Games which begin next week.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto confirmed that a visitor from abroad who is involved in organising the Games had tested positive. He would not reveal the person's nationality, citing privacy concerns.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed for a year due to the global pandemic, is being held mostly without spectators and under tight quarantine rules.
Athletes are just starting to arrive for the Games which run July 23 through Aug. 8.
Japan's public has been lukewarm about the Games amid a resurgence in new coronavirus infections and worries that an influx of foreign visitors may help turn the Tokyo Olympics into a super-spreader event, which in turn could put further strain on Japan's already stretched medical system.