Japan deals with fourth wave of COVID-19 with Olympics 11 weeks away

Japan’s medical system is feeling the pressure of COVID-19 ahead of of the summer Olympic games.

The country is in a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections with the Tokyo Olympics
starting in 11 weeks.

The government has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and Osaka and other parts of the country where ICU beds are filling up.

The extension deepens uncertainties over a speculated May 17 visit by International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, and whether Japan can safely host the Olympics postponed from last year and currently scheduled for July 23-Aug. 8.

The ongoing emergency is Japan’s third and came only a month after an earlier measure ended in the Tokyo area.

Japan has had about 616,000 cases including about 10,500 deaths since the pandemic began.