For the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics next month, Japan announced on Thursday that it would gradually ease the state of emergency imposed in and around Tokyo due to the coronavirus. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that the government would move to a “semi-emergency state” once the state of emergency ended on Sunday. However, these relaxed restrictions will remain in force until July 11, just 12 days before the start of the Olympics.

It is estimated that the government will allow up to 10,000 spectators to enter the Olympic venues. Due to the increasing incidence of Kavid-19 in and around the Japanese capital, a month-long state of emergency was initially declared and extended until the end of May. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during this time, especially in the medical field, where medical experts have been vocal in their opposition to the Olympics. The Tokyo Olympics were postponed last year due to the coronavirus. This year also the presence of foreign visitors is banned.

The results of a new experimental Kavid 19 note are not satisfactory. Preliminary tests have shown that the German biopharmaceutical company CureVac vaccine is only 48% effective, which is less than the minimum 50% efficacy standard set by the World Health Organization.