Tokyo 2020: Government to demand clean bill of health from visitors

 

It will not be business as usual for visitors to the next Olympics in Tokyo as they may be expected to carry their medical certificate.

This year’s Olympics turned into a yoyo and had to be pushed till next year following the ravaging effect of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Japanese Government is reportedly considering making private health insurance compulsory for visitors Olympic and Paralympic Games respectively.

According to Kyodo News, a proposal presented by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party would  see visitors required to take out private health insurance coverage, as well as test negative for coronavirus.

Visitors may also be required to submit a report on their health status.

The proposal has been made due to the current system requiring the Japanese public to bear the financial cost of treating overseas visitors. It had earlier become an issue regarding the Diamond Princess Cruise ship.

The cruise ship was docked in Yokohama in February when it recorded around 700 coronavirus infections, with Japanese hospitals ultimately treating visitors with the infections.

The Olympics are now scheduled for July 23 to August 8, followed by the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5.

Organisers are working on a series of coronavirus countermeasures to protect athletes and spectators during their stay in the Japanese capital.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has recently revealed her hopes of holding the Games with “full spectators present”.

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshirō Mutō has also previously said measures for fans, including non-Japanese residents, would be drawn up by the spring.

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Hopes of a successful staging of the Games have been boosted by progress in the development of COVID-19 vaccines, although it may still be some time before they are available to the wider public.