Photo: AFP
The COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan continues to grow as the Olympic Games begin.
The nation's capital recorded nearly 2,000 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. Japan has endured 853,000 COVID-19 cases and 15,100 COVID-19 related deaths, and most of these cases and deaths have occurred within the last seven months. Less than a quarter of the nation's population has been fully vaccinated against the virus.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has remained committed to hosting the Tokyo Olympics, but has instituted a state of emergency that is expected to last through August 22.
Toshiro Muto, the head of the 2021 Summer Olympics Organizing Committee, said that he would rule out a last-minute cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.
"We can't predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases. So we will continue discussions if there is a spike in cases," Muto said. "We have agreed that based on the coronavirus situation, we will convene five-party talks again. At this point, the coronavirus cases may rise or fall, so we will think about what we should do when the situation arises."
Olympic women's soccer and softball have already started pool play while other athletes have settled into the Olympic Village. If the Tokyo Olympics are going to be canceled, Muto and his colleagues would have to make that decision before the opening ceremony takes place on Friday.