Athletes, Hotels, Tokyo Hit With Covid Outbreaks A Week Before Olympics
News outlets report on covid cases among Olympic athletes, organizers, hotel staff and the general population of Tokyo--with the city hitting a six-month case rate high. The International Olympic Committee president, however, assures there's "zero" risk of covid spread from the games.
CBS News:
Olympic Athlete And Five Other Personnel Test Positive For COVID-19
An unnamed Olympic athlete and five other personnel for the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19, organizers announced Thursday. The announcement comes as more athletes are arriving in Japan, and amid growing concern over the potential spread of the virus at the games — which begin in just eight days. Officials said the athlete, who is not a resident of Japan, has been placed under a 14-day quarantine period. Four local contractors and one "Games-connected personnel" also tested positive. (Powell, 7/15)
Reuters:
Olympics Virus Outbreaks At Olympic Hotels Sow Frustration, Stoke Infection Fears
Coronavirus outbreaks involving Olympic teams in Japan have turned small-town hotels into facilities on the frontline of the pandemic battle, charged with implementing complex health measures to protect elite athletes and a fearful public. Infections have hit at least seven teams arriving in Japan barely a week out from the July 23 opening ceremony and after host city Tokyo reported its highest daily tally of new COVID-19 infections since late January. (Park, Yamamitsu and Slodkowski, 7/16)
Bloomberg:
Tokyo Virus Cases Hit Six-Month High Just Days Before Olympics
New coronavirus virus cases hit a six-month high in Tokyo, a worrying sign just a little more than a week before the city hosts the Olympics. Cases in the capital tallied 1,308 on Thursday, the most since January, when the capital was experiencing its worst wave of infections, hitting a daily record of 2,520 new cases. The surge comes as International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is visiting Japan ahead of the July 23 opening ceremony, trying to reassure residents the IOC and local government are doing all they can to reduce public health risks. The Olympics will be held without spectators for events in the Tokyo area, a first for the modern Olympic movement that dates back to the late 19th century. (Herskovitz, 7/15)
Forbes:
Ugandan Olympic Athlete Goes Missing In Japan In Possible Breach Of Covid-19 Rules
A Ugandan athlete training in Japan in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics went missing on Friday, triggering a search by local officials and police, in an incident that has raised doubt about the security measures put in place by the games’ organizers to keep the spread of Covid-19 in check. (Ray, 7/16)
Reuters:
Risk Of COVID Spread Is 'Zero,' IOC Chief Says, Amid Rising Cases
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Thursday there was "zero" risk of Games participants infecting Japanese residents with COVID-19, as cases hit a six-month high in the host city. Bach said Olympics athletes and delegations had undergone more than 8,000 coronavirus tests, resulting in three positive results. "Risk for the other residents of Olympic village and risk for the Japanese people is zero," he added. (7/15)
