Because of the rising cases of the Coronavirus, the Olympic torch relay leg, which was supposed to be held in the city of Osaka, is going to be cancelled. It was announced by Hirofumi Yoshimura, who is the region’s governor. The call was taken as two other parts of Japan. Osaka prefecture regions started to face the new measures due to Coronavirus because there was an emergency spike in cases. Yoshimura also told the reporters that he, too, personally thinks that the torch relay in Osaka city must be cancelled as it will again increase the cases. He also added that there must be a talk between Tokyo and Osaka town in 2020. But according to local media, the organizers of the Tokyo 2020 games had no immediate comment on this call. But it is backed by the mayor of Osaka city.
According to the Nikkei newspaper, which quoted the mayor, Ichiro Matsui said it is a deplorable and sad situation. Still, the torch relay as of now should be cancelled because of the deadly virus that is causing a hike in the cases.
The torch relay started on March 25, from Fukushima. It made the organizers hopeful that there will be enthusiasm built across Japan for the games after the delay of one year because of the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus.
It is also scheduled to travel to Osaka’s prefecture on April 13th and 14th, which started in Sakai city and was supposed to end at Osaka city. According to Shimane prefecture, the governor of the other place had also suggested that the possibility of him asking the torch relay to skip his area is much higher in case the Coronavirus is not tightened.
According to the rules, the spectators who will be lining the relay route must wear masks and strictly avoid cheering. Other organizers said that legs could be cancelled in case there is overcrowding.
In the news, coronavirus infections are rising in the cases in Osaka, Miyagi and Hyogo prefectures, and the government should announce a new set of restrictions for these regions later. The officials there must close the businesses as soon as possible.
Parts of Japan had faced an emergency due to the virus earlier this year, with surrounding regions and Tokyo being the last to lift all its measures on March 21. There is also an emergency warning that Japan will be entering the fourth virus wave.