Olympics-Ugandan team member arriving in Tokyo had Delta coronavirus variant - Kyodo (updated)
25/06/2021 05:10
(Adds background, city official comment)
TOKYO, June 25 (Reuters) - A member of the Ugandan Olympic
team who tested positive for the coronavirus upon arrival in
Japan had the Delta variant, Kyodo News said on Friday, adding
to concern that the Games - less than a month away - may trigger
a new wave of infections.
A coach in the African nation's delegation tested positive
after arriving in Japan on Saturday, while a second member, an
athlete, tested positive on Wednesday after arriving in the
team's host city of Izumisano, Kyodo said.
A city official told Reuters he could not confirm whether a
team member had tested positive for the highly transmissible
Delta variant.
Japan has not suffered the explosive outbreak of the virus
seen elsewhere but struggled with a fourth wave of infections
until a decline in the pace of increase and a speeded up
vaccination rollout prompted it to lift a state of emergency in
Tokyo and eight other prefectures on Sunday.
But experts have been expressing concerns about renewed rise
in COVID-19 cases in Tokyo as well as about the spread of more
highly transmissible variants.
(Reporting by Tokyo Newsroom)
((Ritsuko.Ando@reuters.com; +81 3 6441 1743;))