Infections Spike In Tokyo 3 Months Before Olympics
Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials are facing the challenge of building momentum for this summer's Olympics amid the spread of coronavirus infections, with just three months to go before the Games open.
The number of infections with virus variants has been surging in Tokyo, with the central government expected to declare a state of emergency in the capital for the third time.
Tokyo officials have been trying to boost people's enthusiasm for the Olympics. They have been placing promotional banners at shopping streets.
Officials also unveiled statues of the mascots for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics at the metropolitan government building on April 14.
However, they have not been displayed in public as people are strongly urged to refrain from nonessential outings.
The Olympic torch relay was removed from public roads in Osaka Prefecture and Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture, where the virus has been spreading rapidly.
Tokyo officials are studying how they should respond if the infection situation worsens in the run-up to the capital's torch relay segment in July.