<Anchor> The
US government has advised its citizens to ban travel to Japan. Japan's coronavirus situation is so bad, and we must see how this action will affect the Tokyo Olympics two months ahead.
Correspondent Kim Yoon-soo from Washington reports.
<Reporter> The
U.S. Department of State has raised travel warnings for Japan from the existing three-stage'travel inventory' to the highest level,'Travel Prohibition'.
It was judged that the situation of Corona 19 in Japan continues to deteriorate, with the number of confirmed cases reaching 4,000 per day and the third emergency taking effect.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also raised the risk level of Corona 19 in Japan to the 4th level of'very high'.
It is just two months ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which will be held on July 23, but the vaccination rate in Japan remains at around 2%, raising concerns.
[Pouch/U.S. National Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research Center Director: If the vaccination rate is low, I am of course worried. It is up to the Japanese government to decide how to take action during the Olympic season.]
However, the Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee have been steadfast in their intention to hold the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee plans to complete the vaccination of more than 80% of the athletes before the Olympics.
[Coates/IOC Vice-Chairman: The Tokyo Olympics will be a safe competition for all participants, and the Japanese people will be safe.]
The U.S. has yet to decide whether to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, and attention is being paid to whether this action will affect the U.S. final decision.