Olympic Games: COVID state of emergency declared in Tokyo with Olympics six months away

With just over six months until the Tokyo Summer Olympics ar set to open, Japan declared a state of emergency in the capital and three nearby areas on Thursday as coronavirus cases continue to surge. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga issued the declaration at a meeting of a government coronavirus task force after Tokyo recorded a daily record of 2,447 cases. It begins from Friday until Feb. 7th and asks restaurants and bars to close at 8 p.m. and people to stay home and not mingle in crowds. But the declaration carries no penalties for violators. Vaccinations are expected to start next month in Japan and Suga said he hoped that a successful rollout will help reignite sagging public support for the Tokyo Summer Olympics. The delayed Tokyo Olympics are scheduled for July 23rd to August 8th.