The government is considering placing Tokyo under a quasi-state of emergency during the Olympics, given that a number of health experts have expressed concern over a potential spike in COVID-19 cases, according to government officials.
The Olympics are due to begin July 23, but public fears persist about a surge of coronavirus infections triggered by an influx of people into the capital and driven by more contagious variants.
Since late April, Tokyo has been under a stricter state of emergency, but it will likely end on June 20 as a fourth wave of infections has somewhat abated.