Bengaluru, July 29: Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers dismissed any link to rising coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Japan after reporting 24 infections among Games participants, the highest yet.
At least 193 athletes, media and Olympic employees and contractors have now tested positive for the virus, according to Tokyo 2020 figures that do not include some cases at airports and in training camps, reports AFP news agency.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Mark Adams said there was nothing to suggest a link between the Games and the rising figures.
COVID-19 testing stats from 1 to 27 July under the authority of @Tokyo2020:
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 29, 2021
310,113 screening tests
64 confirmed positives
0.02% positivity rate
39,209 airport tests for Games participants
30 confirmed positives
0.08% positivity ratehttps://t.co/vkVcHTJlNv
"As far as I'm aware there's not a single case of an infection spreading to the Tokyo population from the athletes or Olympic movement," Adams said.
The Tokyo 2020 organisers also insisted the Games is not putting additional pressure on Japan's medical system, as experts warn the rising number of cases could lead to a healthcare crisis.
Only two people associated with the Games are in hospital, they said, and half of all those needing care are being looked after by their own medical teams.
"Of 310,000 screeening tests, the rate of positivity is 0.02 percent," Adams added.
Of the Olympic participants reported positive, 109 are residents of Japan, with the rest coming from abroad.
The comments come with rising concern in Tokyo and beyond about a rapid rise in new infections, spurred by the more contagious Delta variant.
Resources are available to support athletes’ well-being and protect their mental health.
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 29, 2021
More below and here: https://t.co/SS9TjL4MOo https://t.co/UEFW7C58jk
Tokyo is already under a virus state of emergency that shortens restaurant and bar opening hours and bars them from selling alcohol, and three neighbouring regions are now expected to impose the same measure.
But experts say the limits do not appear to be working, and have warned people not to drop their guard.
"The current situation is the worst ever," a top government advisor on the virus warned, according to national broadcaster NHK.
Shigeru Omi, a former top World Health Organisation official, added that since the government and Olympic organisers had decided to go ahead with the Games, "it's their responsibility to do everything they can to prevent infections and a breakdown in medical services".
Japan has seen a comparatively small virus outbreak, with around 15,000 deaths despite avoiding harsh lockdowns, but only around a quarter of the population is fully vaccinated.
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Strict measures have been imposed for the Games, including a ban on spectators at almost all events and regular testing for Olympic participants.
The Tokyo 2020 Games is almost into a week now with track and field events set to begin on Friday (July 30).
The Games will conclude on August 8.