Covid-19 complication means fans may be barred from Tokyo Olympics

Covid-19 is causing more complications as Olympics organisers weigh up whether to backflip on their previous call and ban all spectators.

The Japanese government plans to impose a virus state of emergency in Tokyo during the Olympics, reports from local media, meaning spectators could be barred from venues.

The emergency measures — less strict than a blanket lockdown — would be in force until August 22, several Japanese media outlets reported, following a rise in cases less than three weeks before the Games begin.

“The government decided to declare the fourth state of emergency for Tokyo and communicated the decision to the ruling parties,” public broadcaster NHK said.

Ministers will consult with experts and make a formal decision at a virus task force meeting this week, it added.

Kyodo News, citing a senior government official, said it was now likely the Olympics would be held behind closed doors.

The pandemic-postponed 2020 Games will take place under strict anti-infection rules, with overseas fans already banned.

Organisers set a limit last month of 10,000 fans, or half of each venue’s capacity, but recently warned that a closed-door Games remains an option as the virus situation worsens.

Japan’s Covid-19 outbreak has not been as severe as in some countries, with around 14,800 deaths, but experts say another wave could stretch medical services as the Games begin.

Around 15 per cent of Japan’s population is fully vaccinated against the deadly respiratory disease.

So much is still unknown about what the Olympics will look like.

The announcement of the results of a ticket lottery for oversubscribed events has been pushed back to Saturday — less than two weeks before the July 23 opening ceremony.

Fans have also been urged not to line the route of the Olympic marathon in the northern city of Sapporo.

Tokyo and other regions are currently under softer virus restrictions, due to end on Sunday, that cap spectators at non-Olympic sports events at 5,000, and limit bar and restaurant opening hours.

The capital has already had a state of emergency, which gives local authorities more powers to request business closures, imposed three times since the pandemic began.

The last emergency had been successful in bringing cases down in Tokyo, but infections have risen since it ended last month, with fears growing over the spread of new variants.

Games participants have already begun arriving in Japan, with 11,000 Olympic athletes from around 200 countries set to take part.

International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach is due to arrive in Japan on Thursday, and will isolate for three days on arrival.

He had initially been expected to visit Tokyo in May, but that trip was cancelled over virus restrictions.

Originally published as Covid-19 complication means fans may be barred from Tokyo Olympics