Tokyo registers record 3,177 new virus cases


Olympic host city Tokyo registered a record 3,177 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, authorities announced, as rising infections put pressure on hospitals.

The rise will add to worries about the Games, which are taking place under unprecedented health and sanitary conditions, including a ban on spectators in most venues.

ADVERTISEMENT

It also spells trouble for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, whose support ratings are at their lowest since he took office in September, ahead of a ruling party leadership race and a parliamentary election this year.

Nationwide, the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 9,000 for the first time, according to public broadcaster NHK’s calculations.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Quarantined athlete says no fresh air ‘inhuman’
6h

What you missed in Tokyo: Japan tops USA for softball gold, USWNT advances, women’s hoops wins 50th in a row
16hESPN
Governors of three prefectures near Tokyo — Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama — will ask the government on Thursday to declare states of emergency for their regions, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who leads Japan’s COVID-19 response, told a parliamentary panel.

“I think we’ve entered a trend of sharp rises in cases, which I had feared the most,” Kanagawa governor Yuji Kuroiwa told reporters.

Tokyo is under its fourth state of emergency, which is due to last through the Olympics, while the other three regions are implementing quasi-emergency measures.

However, while many other countries have at times imposed severe social and economic lockdowns, Tokyo’s measures rely mainly on asking restaurants that serve alcohol to shut their doors, and others to close by 8 p.m.

‘National crisis’

Olympics organizers reported 16 new Games-related cases, for a total of 169 since July 1. Athletes, staff and media must all follow strict rules, including frequent testing, inside an Olympic bubble.

Many Japanese are worried about a spread of infections from Games participants.

Suga on Tuesday urged people to stay home as much as possible and watch the Olympics on television.

But senior opposition Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Jun Azumi said the government was being too optimistic.

“Unless it revises its view of the infection situation, after the Olympics end, there will be a serious national crisis affecting people’s lives, beginning with a collapse of the medical system,” the NHK public broadcaster quoted him as saying.

Japan has avoided the devastating outbreaks suffered by other countries such as India and the United States, but its fifth wave of the pandemic is straining hospitals.

Many Japanese have grown weary of the largely voluntary restrictions, and some experts say the decision to go ahead with the Olympics sent a confusing message, posing a greater risk than any direct spread from Olympic participants.

Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com 

Want More From Sports Gossip? 

For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

You can view the original article HERE.

Isabella Rossellini’s Best Performances, Ranked
Isabella Rossellini’s Best Performances, Ranked
“Anora,” “Shōgun” Win Big with Critics Choice Awards | Festivals & Awards
“Anora,” “Shōgun” Win Big with Critics Choice Awards | Festivals & Awards
Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg to Lead AMC’s Silicon Valley Series
Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg to Lead AMC’s Silicon Valley Series
Sigourney Weaver Reveals She Joined the ‘Mandalorian’ Movie for Grogu
Sigourney Weaver Reveals She Joined the ‘Mandalorian’ Movie for Grogu
Samantha Mumba hits out at “unnecessarily rude” judges after coming runner-up to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025
Samantha Mumba hits out at “unnecessarily rude” judges after coming runner-up to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025
Listen to Bdrmm’s “aggressive” new single ‘Lake Disappointment’
Listen to Bdrmm’s “aggressive” new single ‘Lake Disappointment’
Taylor Swift Fans Seethe at Kendrick Lamar Over Halftime Show
Taylor Swift Fans Seethe at Kendrick Lamar Over Halftime Show
Smashing Pumpkins announce massive 2025 London Gunnersbury Park show with Skunk Anansie and White Lies
Smashing Pumpkins announce massive 2025 London Gunnersbury Park show with Skunk Anansie and White Lies
Everything We Know About Jason Statham’s ‘A Working Man’
Everything We Know About Jason Statham’s ‘A Working Man’
The Hunting Party Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Learning to Trust Amidst a Violent Manhunt
The Hunting Party Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Learning to Trust Amidst a Violent Manhunt
15 Best TV Vampires in Ever Put to Screen
15 Best TV Vampires in Ever Put to Screen
‘The Ascent’ Will Throw a Wedding Party to the Sharks in New Horror Movie
‘The Ascent’ Will Throw a Wedding Party to the Sharks in New Horror Movie
The Origins of Cricket – Sports Gossip
The Origins of Cricket – Sports Gossip
Eagles dominate Super Bowl LIX to deny Chiefs 3-peat
Eagles dominate Super Bowl LIX to deny Chiefs 3-peat
Chiefs’ Hopkins: ‘Are y’all gonna talk about the refs now?’
Chiefs’ Hopkins: ‘Are y’all gonna talk about the refs now?’
Brady needs to be a star in TV gig, not a game manager
Brady needs to be a star in TV gig, not a game manager
D.L. Hughley Says Kendrick Halftime Show 1st Good Thing Since Trump’s Return
D.L. Hughley Says Kendrick Halftime Show 1st Good Thing Since Trump’s Return
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl looks turn heads as fans speculate about a possible proposal
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl looks turn heads as fans speculate about a possible proposal
Vince Neil Not on Board Plane Involved In Deadly Crash, Girlfriend Survives
Vince Neil Not on Board Plane Involved In Deadly Crash, Girlfriend Survives
Taylor Swift gets booed, Kendrick Lamar disses Drake — and what was up with that scoreboard? Here are the most viral moments of the night.
Taylor Swift gets booed, Kendrick Lamar disses Drake — and what was up with that scoreboard? Here are the most viral moments of the night.
I Wore Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Loveline Lingerie Set
I Wore Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Loveline Lingerie Set
Inside The Society of MSK and NET-A-PORTER’s Winter Lunch
Inside The Society of MSK and NET-A-PORTER’s Winter Lunch
LaQuan Smith’s NYFW Surprise, InStyle’s Wild New Interns!
LaQuan Smith’s NYFW Surprise, InStyle’s Wild New Interns!
Bloomingdale’s and Flamingo Estate’s NYFW Dinner at Casino
Bloomingdale’s and Flamingo Estate’s NYFW Dinner at Casino