Tokyo 2021: a first case of Covid-19 detected in the athletes' village

One week before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, the organizers announced this Saturday, July 17 a first case of Covid-19, identified in the Olympic village.

© AP - Eugene Hoshiko

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2 min

One week before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, the organizers announced this Saturday a first case of Covid-19, identified in the Olympic village.

This raises new doubts about the ability of the organizers to hold “safe and secure” Games.

A spokesperson for the organizing committee is content to say that it is a foreign person without giving more details.

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With our correspondent in Tokyo

,

Frédéric Charles

The organizers of the games confirm that a foreign person working in the Olympic village has tested positive for Covid-19.

The nationality of this person is not mentioned.

The athletes are starting to arrive in the Olympic Village, the majority of them, 11,000 in total, will be staying there from July 23 to August 8.

Athletes arrive in Tokyo five days before the start of their competition and leave immediately after

So far, 40 participants in the Tokyo games have tested positive, but this is the first time that a case of Covid-19 has been confirmed in the Olympic Village.

 We don't know if this person was vaccinated or not,”

said Tokyo 2020 general manager Toshiro Muto.

“What is important is to react immediately,” he

adds.

IOC boss Thomas Bach said two days ago that people who tested positive for Covid-19 in the Olympic village are immediately isolated and that the risks to other residents of the village are zero.

To read:

In Tokyo, the Olympics are preparing between a state of health emergency and hot weather

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  • 2020 Olympics

  • Olympic Games

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