Japanese coronavirus cases top 1,000, government insists Olympics plans on track

[snoop1130]

Japanese coronavirus cases top 1,000, government insists Olympics plans on track

By Chris Gallagher, Makiko Yamazaki

 

A woman wearing a face mask, following an outbreak of the coronavirus, is seen on a street in Tokyo, Japan, March 4, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Japan topped the 1,000 mark on Wednesday, mostly from the Diamond Princess cruise liner, as the government reiterated that plans to host the Tokyo Olympics in July remained on track.

 

Five new infections were reported as of Wednesday afternoon, in locations from Yamaguchi prefecture in the west to Hokkaido in the north, underlining the virus’ spread across the country and raising questions about whether the Olympics can go ahead.

 

The new cases push the total in Japan over the 1,000 mark, according to a Reuters calculation, of which 706 are from the Diamond Princess liner. A total of 12 have died, of which six were from the Diamond Princess, the health ministry said.

 

The government’s top spokesman said Japan would go ahead in preparing to host the Olympics as planned, amid speculation they could be postponed because of the coronavirus threat.

 

“We would steadily proceed with our preparations while closely coordinating with the IOC (the International Olympic Committee) and the organising committee,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a regular news conference.

 

The Olympics are scheduled to open in less than five months and IOC head Thomas Bach on Tuesday reiterated his backing for this summer’s Games despite the coronavirus threat, urging athletes to prepare “full steam.”

 

Still, there are worries the Games could be postponed or even cancelled. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked schools to close this month, companies are encouraging employees to work from home and sporting events are being cancelled or played in empty arenas.

 

Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto fuelled concerns about a delay, saying on Tuesday that Tokyo’s contract with the IOC “could be interpreted as allowing a postponement” until the end of the year, although she reiterated the government remained committed to the Games starting on July 24.

 

Hashimoto also indicated the end of May could be a key date for making any decisions related to a possible cancellation.

 

Masa Takaya, a Tokyo 2020 organising committee spokesman, said on Wednesday the government had clarified its commitment for the Games to proceed, and there was no deadline on a decision whether to postpone.

 

“We have been informed from the Olympic minister that she is absolutely on the same page and the Games will go ahead as planned.”

 

IMPACT ON EVENTS

 

The head of the World Health Organization said he had confidence in Japan’s efforts and hoped for progress, but that the WHO was watching developments and talking with the IOC.

 

“What we have agreed is that we monitor the situation and then of course with the government of Japan, if there is a need for any actions then we can discuss with the Japanese government,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Geneva on Tuesday.

 

The epidemic has already been affecting related events in the run up to the Games.

 

Crowds will be smaller and receptions have been scrapped at the Tokyo 2020 torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece, next week as the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) introduced measures to protect against the coronavirus, it said on Tuesday.

 

Olympics host city Tokyo has seen 40 cases, while infections have been confirmed as far south as Okinawa.

 

The northern island of Hokkaido reported three new cases on Wednesday, bringing its total to 82, the highest among Japan’s prefectures. In western Japan, Ehime reported its second case and Yamaguchi announced its first.

 

“Given how the coronavirus was spreading throughout the country, I thought it would only be a matter of time before a case was confirmed in Yamaguchi,” Tsugumasa Muraoka, the prefecture’s governor, told a news conference.

 

“We will be doing all we can to prevent the spread of the virus,” he said.

 

In separate statements on Wednesday, Japan’s biggest carrier ANA Holdings and local rival Japan Airlines Co said they would cancel some of their domestic flights between March 6-12 due to slower travel demand.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-04

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[chilli42]

Understand that they don’t want to lose the payment from television rights ... have to pay for those shiny new facilities etc.  Visitors will give it a pass.  Seems unfair to the athletes.  They only do this once every four years why not postpone.  It’s not like the world is clamoring for endless day’s of various types of gymnastics.

[RubbaJohnny]

Even played behind closed doors it could be televised, however the teams, coaches physios etc must be thousands who will all  mingle with each other even if not allowed contact with infected 1000 in Japan. Then they will all board the same planes as everyone else and travel home all over the world.

 

While I have zero medical qualifications it seems greed will trump human safety, or am I being to cynical watvhing local short-termism.

 

The Games could be awarded to Tokio at a later date when there is no such risk.

Perhaps Japanese politicians might consider the world reaction if the waning virus gets a global boost due to there short sightedness, However TEPCOs handling of the Fukushima disaster does not bode well.

Edited March 5, 2020 by RubbaJohnny
typo

[Crazy Alex]

Nice to see Japan understands this virus and refuses to go along with the leftist hysteria being promoted. Good for them.