tokyo 2020 olympics

6 torch relay staff in southwestern Japan test positive for COVID-19

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The average daily number of Covid positives in Kagoshima-ken during April was less than 10 until last Tuesday's relay.

It has tripled since then.

All those meetings the relay staff must have had to to discuss Covid safety measures obviously created a cluster. Monty Python could not have done better.

23 ( +25 / -2 )

So much for making sure the event would be safe and free of infections.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

It would seem logical that they were asymptotic carriers, but you never know. This is Japan. (TIJ)

"I feel horrible. I'm so sick, but I have to go to work. Everyone will be mad at me if I don't go. Ganbarimasu!"

16 ( +20 / -4 )

They probably didn't get it from the event, but rather brought with them to the relay. That's why I will be calling in sick next month when the relay comes to my town. Don't want some outside staff coming to town, standing next to me.

The Olympics should be cancelled. Hello, J-Gov. If you haven't noticed we are seeing record numbers of cases almost daily. We had the second highest number of cases in Iwate just yesterday. Unfortunately, many of those positives from yesterday may not survive as out of the 36 cases half were over 60 and there were 8 in their 90s.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

They were wearing masks so all is okay according to Japanese covid philosophy. No testing of close contacts needed and so on. So much mask wearing in Japan, so little testing because wearing mask means you don't spread the virus (according to Japanese contact tracing) so how doe the virus keep spreading?

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Say it with me folks.

Sssshocking.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

and were wearing masks at the time

I do believe they were wearing masks at all time, I just believe even more firmly that social distancing was somehow forgotten.

I see everyone wearing masks around here, but very very very few really make an effort to keep a safe distance.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

So are they testing the staff the same amount as the athletes?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

They didn't get infected while doing their Olympic traffic duty. AFTER the event they all huddle in a tent or go to a bar to talk about the days activities. THAT is where they get infected.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

happyhere got in first but this matters much more because it is in a prefecture with hardly any cases. Most, if not all, cases there should be traceable, if there were the will and competence to do it.

The workplaces of the people in question may have to close and the classes any kids they have are in may be shut down, so this can have consequences even if they are asymptomatic.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

There are quite large numbers of staff at these torch relay events. Personnel agencies are busy trying to recruit staff for them; one advertisement last night wanted 50 staff for a June event. Must wear black chino pants, T-shirt provided, only no-brand training shoes, no piercing, no nail art, and their role is looking after the volunteers!

Add the actual 'runners', professional event staff, mass media, local security staff along the road, volunteers, police, officials in their cars and vans, spectators, etc.; and you are into the 1,000s.

And from the daily NHK videos, many do not wear masks, they hug and touch each other, shout loudly, stand close...

7 ( +8 / -1 )

All of them were responsible for controlling traffic at the event on Tuesday and were wearing masks at the time

People have been made to think mask is the ultimate panacea to not getting infected which is completely false. Alot of people get infected through touch and contact than experts would want to admit as it will seriously impact businesses since they will be required to sterilize frequently,

6 ( +7 / -1 )

From what I have personally witnessed, there is no “social distancing” happening.

In schools, there are small classrooms with 40 students, teachers sitting almost shoulder to shoulder in rooms with 50-100 people, club activities, sports, etc. etc.

Also, students and teachers eat lunch together on a daily basis in these rooms.

Known clusters are few and far between in schools.

I believe the people in this article were infected some other way.

Actually, I hope they were infected some other way, because if wearing masks and directing traffic outside can give you (possibly) the newer strains, we are all in deep trouble.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

What is the contact tracing system like up there? For a country as technologically advanced as Japan I’d expect everyone to have a contact tracing app on their phones and QR codes at basically all venues?

Yeah cocoa, the 3.9 billion dollar waste is leaving up to its reputation as complete waste of hard earned taxpayer money and as if not satisfied with the waste bureaucrats decided to create a new app to track foreign officials and athletes to the olympic with an even costly app costing a whooping 7.3 billion yen which even an elementary school kids knows is a complete waste, The LDP and the bureaucrats are a match made in heaven, total lack of common sense, their actions make common sense not so common. Everyone working hard deserve better.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

just cancel this ridiculous dog and pony show

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Well done, Japan! A sign of things to come, for sure.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for one year due to the pandemic and are scheduled to start July 23" amidst the same pandemic. Brilliant.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Here we go Tokyo Olympics

2 ( +6 / -4 )

What is the contact tracing system like up there? For a country as technologically advanced as Japan I’d expect everyone to have a contact tracing app on their phones and QR codes at basically all venues?

Would be interesting to see where they got it and how many other people may have now been affected.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I would say the torch bubble has popped, but truthfully the bubble only ever really existed in the ""MINDS"" of those ""running"" it!

The COVID GAMES continue unabatted!!!

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Novel way of spreading the virus.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

the regular strain or one of the variants?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Unfortunately, many of those positives from yesterday may not survive as out of the 36 cases half were over 60 and there were 8 in their 90s.

I can assume with 100 percent accuracy that the 8 in their 90s were not out eating and drinking. Were likely in elderly homes and probably got infected by younger staff or other occupants who got infected by staff or visiting family members

One would expect staffers of elderly homes to be frequently given free government pcr testing so as to protect the vulnerable elderly occupants they look after but nope the aversion to testing is so strong there is no testing and nobody even the so-called experts are not calling. These stooges have no credibility at all, they are only good at tell us how Japan is faring or has fared better than gaikoku. Maybe they and the media are thinking it is some kind of competition and Japan will get a medal for doing better than the usual suspects.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Darius

But they were wearing masks.. I guess they're not effective after all.

Only N95/KF94 grade respirators will protect you from infection.

Surgical/Cloth/Uniqlo masks do not, they are only good for reducing transmission from an infected wearer, do not protect the wearer.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"What is the contact tracing system like up there? For a country as technologically advanced as Japan I’d expect everyone to have a contact tracing app on their phones and QR codes at basically all venues?"

They had one. It is called cocoa

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Of course it is a mess. Stop the torch relay and to blow there that CO2 into the air (from the torches and the accompanying patrol , helping or media staff, their transportation, also a few spectators probably) and the other immediate side effect will be that the virus spreading is also reduced.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Simian LaneToday  07:01 am JST

Not the first pandemic the world has ever had, not even the tenth, but the first the Internet has recorded and scrutinized over every detail on a daily basis.

spot on !

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

But they were wearing masks.. I guess they're not effective after all.

-17 ( +9 / -26 )

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