COVID-19: Japan faces wrath of hosting Tokyo Olympics

24 new Games-related cases reported, over 3,000 positive cases in a day for the first time in the country.

The Tokyo Olympics organisers on Thursday (July 29) announced 24 new COVID-19 cases, including three athletes, the highest one-day figures so far at the Games, even as the organisers insisted that the showpiece is not behind the record surge in the host city. The city logged in an all-time high of 3865 positive cases on Thursday. Three new deaths were recorded with 81 patients being described as ‘severe cases’. Reacting promptly, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) spokesperson Mark Adams said the Games are not responsible for the surge in coronavirus infections in Tokyo, according to public broadcaster NHK. The fresh additions took the total number of Games-related cases to 193. Authorities are alarmed by the Japanese capital setting an all-time high and closing in on 4000 cases, only a day after crossing the 3,000 mark for the first time. The host city is in a state of emergency with COVID-19 infections at a record high.