Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike. (Image via Kyodo News)

Koike: Vaccine gives us hope for the 2021 Summer Olympics

As the world is developing the vaccine for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Tokyo is relieved as it might be the key solution for the 2021 Summer Olympics, delayed due to the pandemic.

Speaking on Monday, Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, stated that the vaccine emits the ray of hope as Japan still became the host for the postponed Summer Olympics & Paralympics till July 2021. The statement came as Japan is currently struggling with the recurrence of COVID-19 mass outbreak. As the host city, Koike vowed to do anything to realize a successful Summer Olympics, citing that Great Britain and the United States (U.S) have begun COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Even though no mandatory lockdown was issued, Japan handled COVID-19 better than the U.S and European countries. For example, the Japanese Government only "asked" people to stay home and people to close business in April and May 2020, and it succeeded in flattening the curve. When a second surge happened in the summer, Tokyo asked businesses once more to cut its business hours and urged mask-wearing culture among its residents besides following the other preventive measures.

While complimenting the cooperation of the Japanese people, Koike worried that the repeating of similar requests is making them complacent about the situation. COVID-19 cases in Japan are hiking as the Japanese Government is pressed to take stronger action to avoid damage to its economy as the serious COVID-19 cases are hitting hospitals and affecting medical care for other patients.

Currently, Japan has reported 179,653 cases and 2,585 deaths per Sunday. As Tokyo broke 600 cases last week, the capital reported 305 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday. Koike explained that it is the duty of the Japanese Government to protect its citizen's health and safety. However, the Japanese Government and the Tokyo Government have different perspectives.

The Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, promoted, "Go To Travel" subsidy program to support the Japanese tourism industry while ignoring the forewarning of the experts that the economic and social activities need to calm down. Finally, on Monday, Suga decided to halt the program from 28 December to 11 January. Moreover, Suga also planned to compensate bars forced to cut its business hours and provide allowances for medical teams for their service in handling COVID-19 pandemic.

However, a survey that counts approval rating for Suga's government showed that it fell to some 50 percent, compared to 70 percent in the first three months he took the position. The reason was that the Japanese people are concerned about Suga's way to deal with COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Japanese government promised that it will procure enough COVID-19 vaccine for all Japanese citizens by June 2021.

Source: https://bit.ly/383EHXh