Tokyo: The prospects for Summer Olympics is becoming bleak day by day as Japan is considering an extended emergency due to coronavirus situation.
Officials said major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures might be placed under extended emergency beyond May 11 due to surge in coronavirus cases.
The sources said the Japanese government might make an official announcement as early as Friday on the matter. This has caused concerns about whether the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to begin on July 23, can be held as planned.
The games have already been delayed once from last year due to the pandemic. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will be taking a decision on the matter shortly.
Media reports said the governor of Osaka Prefecture said an extension of three weeks to a month may be necessary to break the chain of the deadly virus.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is expected to visit Japan later this month, but an extension of the state of emergency could prompt renewed calls from the public to cancel the games.