Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday that the Tokyo Olympics may not have any spectators in attendance, as the Covid-19 cases rose once again in Tokyo.
The government is reportedly considering this move amid fears that current plans to allow up to 10,000 spectators at events may trigger a surge in Covid-19 infections.
Suga told reporters that his government will act with the “safety and security” of the Japanese people as its top priority, according to Kyodo News.
On his part, Natsuo Yamaguchi, one of the coalition partners of the Suga government, also pushed the government to “consider allowing no spectators.”
This heated discussion comes at a time when Tokyo witnesses a resurgence in the growth of new Covid-19 cases after a month-long drop.
Meantime, the Japan Times reports that the rebound in cases has forced the government to consider extending the current quasi-state of emergency in the capital city and three adjacent regions.
Other possibility is that the Prime Minister may declare another full state of emergency in the Tokyo area to stamp out the resurgence in cases.
Japan has administered 43.5 million of Covid-19 vaccine doses so far with nearly 23% of its total population getting at least one dose, according to Bloomberg’s tracker.
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