State of emergency declared in Tokyo ahead of Olympics

Source: The Hill | July 8, 2021 | Celine Castronuovo

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday officially announced a state of emergency in Tokyo just two weeks ahead of the Olympics amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in the capital city. 

“Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said in a statement unveiling the order, according to The Associated Press

The state of emergency is scheduled to go into effect Monday and last through Aug. 22, while the Olympics are set to open on July 23 and conclude on Aug. 8. The Paralympics are set to open on Aug. 24. 

According to the AP, the order mandates the closure of bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol, with Tokyo residents also likely to face stay-at-home orders during the Games. 

The state of emergency is expected to be followed by a ban on spectators at the Olympics, with Reuters reporting earlier this week that top officials were reconsidering their decision to allow 10,000 local fans, or approximately 50 percent capacity, at the Games. 

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