Daily Pre - Departure Tests Required For Some Teams
The Japanese government says it will ask athletes and others coming from six countries for the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be tested daily for the coronavirus for seven days prior to departure.
The measure applies to participants from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, where the Delta variant is spreading. The highly contagious variant was first identified in India.
The measure will take effect on July 1.
The government and the organizing committee have already asked all foreign teams to have members tested twice within four days prior to departure, and every day in principle after arriving in Japan.
The latest step will also require that participants from Egypt, Vietnam, Malaysia, Britain and Bangladesh be tested every day for three days prior to departure.
Athletes will be allowed to practice, provided they do not come into contact with others not on their teams for three days after arriving in Japan.