Japan, the nation hosting the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, reported a record number of COVID-19 cases for two consecutive days on Wednesday Thursday, according to multiple tracking sources including Worldometers and the New York Times.
Wednesday’s official number of new reported cases of COVID-19 were 9,675, while on Thursday the country reported 10,684 new cases.
The previous single-day high came on April 29, when the country reported 7,914 new cases.
Over the last week, the country has average 6,518 new daily cases, which is also a new record high, and 19 new deaths daily attributed to COVID-19. That represents a 164% increase in new cases and 36% increase in deaths in the two weeks since Olympic-affiliated people began arriving in the country in large numbers for final preparations.
Nationally, the rate of new daily infections is about 5 per 100,000 in population. That’s still far below many of the world’s other developed nations, most of which are also seeing spikes in new cases, but is enough to set off alarm bells in the host nation.
Tokyo is one of the two hottest spots for new infections in the country. At 16 cases/100,000 population, Tokyo makes up about a third of the new daily coronavirus cases in the country, with about 11% of the population.
Okinawa, located Ryuku Islands off the southern tip of Japan, over 1,000 miles from Tokyo, has seen similar rates of infections.
In light of the rise in cases, Japan has extended its State of Emergency for Tokyo and Okinawa until August 31 from its previous expiration date of August 22. Four other prefectures – Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, and Kanagawa – are also now under Stes of Emergency.
“Infection is expanding with unprecedented speed in the Tokyo Metropolitan and Osaka area, and the more infectious delta variant is replacing rapidly,” Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday.
“If the increase of infection does not stop, the severe symptoms cases will increase and the medical system may possibly be further under strain.”
The Olympic Games are seeing a spike in new cases too. More than 160 people with Olympic credentials, including more than 20 athletes, have tested positive for the coronavirus in Japan. That number doesn’t include people like World Junior Record holding swimmer Ilya Borodin, who tested positive before leaving Russia.
Thursday and Friday have seen the highest number of individuals related to the Olympics test positive for COVID-19 since delegations began arriving in early July, with over 20 Olympic-related persons testing positive each day. There are likely more people in Japan for the Olympics now than there will be at any other point in the Games, with ‘first week’ competitions wrapping up and ‘second week’ competitions beginning.
Among the latest positive tests was the two-time defending champion in the men’s pole vault, American Sam Kendricks, in what was one of the biggest competitive blows by a positive test so far.
Multiple surveys showed that the Japanese population overwhelmingly opposed holding the Olympic Games this summer because of coronavirus fears. None-the-less, television viewership in Japan for the Games are up.
To be fair, your “olympic-related” number is total since July 1.
The Olympics aren’t driving this. Look at the countries in the same part of the world. Same thing, following the same pattern. It’s just their time.
Can Japan not get their citizen’s vaccinated? What’s the hold up?
I am here in Tokyo. Everyone knows about the swimmer that is causing problems. #wearyourmask. This dude sounds like a Trumpy in a swimsuit
Sheesh . August 2020 80% of Democrat voters said they would not take a vaccine authorised inn the Trump admin .( Kaiser Family Foundation & Ipsos iirc ) Trump says all Americans would have access to a vaccine by April ….then at the Pres debate Biden said that was a lie . In the background Trump says plainly ‘ I’ve talked to the scientists ‘ .Further it was Trump that hogged the Pfizer for MAGA. Only now is it more widely available to other countries . He was adamanant it was US first .
Stats I am seeing now from Kaiser Family Flundation it’s minorities in the cities that are the highest non vaccine acceptors. I am told these… Read more »
Causing problems?
He should have just said he would get it immediately after the Olympics was over. To add that he wouldn’t get it at all just made him appear careless and indifferent. He could have done one dose and waited until after the Olympics to get his 2nd dose – which seems to be associated with 1-2 days of malaise.
How could MA be so reckless
Vaccinated people can transmit the virus too
Of course TV viewership is up. They can’t go anywhere
Courtesy of MA
Can the swimmers stick around and watch the other sports? Or do they have to go right home? Being at the start of the schedule was always a nice perk for swimmers
Home where the buffalos roam .
48 hours after last event > exit.
I’m sure the people of Japan would be very happy to know michae andrews is doing everything he can to protect the Japanese hosts from further outbreaks
He is getting tested everyday .
He cares