Coronavirus: Japan mulls exempting overseas visitors for Olympics from quarantine

Name: What’s going on with the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo?
Uploaded: 2020-11-10T17:33:24.000Z
Duration: 3 min 33 s
Description: What’s going on with the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo?

International travellers currently face 14-day quarantine period

Government already plans to allow foreign athletes and staff into the country provided they submit proof of having tested negative for Covid-19

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The Olympic Rings are seen at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo, Japan in July. Photo: Xinhua

Kyodo

Published: 1:33am, 11 Nov 2020Updated: 1:33am, 11 Nov 2020

Japan is considering exempting spectators from abroad for next summer’s Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics from the 14-day quarantine period, a measure currently imposed in principle on international travellers to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, government sources said Tuesday.

While the government has yet to decide whether to permit overseas spectators to attend the Summer Games, if approved they are likely to be required to test negative for the coronavirus multiple times before departure and have their condition monitored after entry into Japan, according to the sources.

But unlike foreign athletes and staff, for which the government is also planning to ease entry restrictions, spectators will be permitted to use public transport given the difficulties in restricting their movements.

The proposals will be discussed on Thursday at a meeting of the central and the Tokyo metropolitan governments, as well as the local Olympic organising committee.

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What’s going on with the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo?

But even if the attendance of overseas spectators is approved, the government will give further consideration on whether to allow entry to those arriving from countries where infections are on the rise.