As COVID Surges in Japan, Some See Indirect Olympics Link

Just days after the Tokyo Olympics began, Japan started to see a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. On Thursday, the country topped 15,000 confirmed daily infections for the first time.  Medical experts are now debating whether and to what extent the Games are to blame for the outbreak, which officials warn is “extremely severe.” #BREAKING : Japan's daily total of COVID-19 cases tops 15,000 for 1st timehttps://t.co/kc5GcDjvax#COVID19 #CoronavirusUpdates #StateofEmergency pic.twitter.com/JYVNR7i2tX Journos with European media who are visiting Tokyo for #Olympics coverage were seen carousing on outside stairs of a hotel where they were staying, in a possible violation of media protocols https://t.co/dQlMkFZesa That, plus local reporters are working alongside journos who just flew in yesterday. Plexiglass doesn’t stop covid from infecting the guy sitting right next to you if you’re together for 8 hours a day.

Japan has set daily record high infections at least seven times since the Games began. Most of the infections have been in and around Tokyo, host to tens of thousands of Olympic athletes, officials, and other guests. It is more than just a Tokyo problem at this point, however, officials warn.