Tokyo Olympics: record number of new coronavirus cases for Japan and host city

Among the new cases, 16 more people associated with the Games have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total since the start of July to 169

Meanwhile, tropical storm Nepartak made landfall in Japan, causing heavy rain but moving away from the Tokyo region

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An Olympic Games staff member holds a sign with a symbol and the words “Keep physical distance” to ensure social distancing during the Games. Photo: DPA

Published: 2:35pm, 28 Jul 2021Updated: 10:31pm, 28 Jul 2021

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Japan’s daily total of Covid-19 cases topped 9,000 for the first time on Wednesday, with a surge in infections in Tokyo casting a pall over the Olympics and putting pressure on the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to take stronger countermeasures.

Tokyo reported 3,177 new coronavirus cases, setting an all-time high and exceeding 3,000 for the first time days after the start of the Games. The new cases on Wednesday exceeded the previous record of 2,848 set the previous day and brought the total for the Japanese capital to 206,745 since the pandemic began early last year.

Tokyo has been under a fourth state of emergency since July 12 ahead of the Olympics, which began last Friday despite widespread public opposition and concern that they could further worsen the outbreak. Experts say Tokyo’s surge is being propelled by the new, more contagious Delta variant of the virus.

Among the new cases, 16 more people associated with the Games, none of them athletes, have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total since the start of this month to 169, Games organisers said on Wednesday.

The Games figures exclude those announced by central and local governments. Two cases previously reported proved to be negative and were removed from the cumulative total.

It is the first time in four days that the organisers have reported no positive coronavirus cases among Olympic athletes, at a time when the spike in infections in the host city is raising concerns over public health.