Tokyo reported 317 infections on Monday – an increase of 81 from the same day last week
(Picture: REUTERS)Concerns over a fifth wave of coronavirus in Tokyo are on the rise as the daily number of infections continue to increase less than a month before the city is due to host the Olympics.
Tokyo reported 317 infections on Monday – an increase of 81 from the same day last week and the ninth week-on-week rise in a row.
The rise in cases, along with the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant, means Tokyo could face emergency measures when the Olympics open on July 23.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister overseeing Japan’s pandemic response, said the government would “not hesitate” to call a new state of emergency if needed.
“The number of new infections in the capital and other areas in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area is clearly trending upward,” he said in an interview with the public broadcaster NHK.
Mr Nishimura added new cases are likely to emerge as a result of the Games, calling it “unavoidable”.
“No matter what measures you take, infected people will come in … it is unavoidable,” Mr Yamashita said.
“Strict border controls at airports are extremely important.”
It follows after a leading doctor in Japan warned that the Games could lead to the emergence of an "Olympics" strain of the coronavirus.
Athletes, officials and media from over 200 nations and territories are due into Tokyo from July.
Naoto Ueyama, head of the Japan Doctors Union, said welcoming such an influx is dangerous and could have a lasting impact for “100 years”.
"All of the different mutant strains of the virus which exist in different places will be concentrated and gathering here in Tokyo," he explained at a press conference.
"We cannot deny the possibility of even a new strain of the virus potentially emerging after the Olympics.
"If such a situation were to arise, it could even mean a Tokyo Olympic strain of the virus being named in this way, which would be a huge tragedy and something which would be the target of criticism even for 100 years."
This comes amid recent surveys which show high levels of public opposition to the Games taking place in the city.
In a poll of Tokyo residents by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, 38 per cent of respondents wanted the Games to go ahead as planned; while 27 per cent wanted a further delay and 33 per cent said they should be cancelled.
A poll by the Mainichi Shimbun also found 58 per cent of respondents opposed holding the event this summer, with 30 per cent in favour.
Japan has recorded almost 800,000 cases since the start of the pandemic and 14,700 deaths, making it one of the highest tolls in the region.
