Arriving In Japan, Tokyo Olympic Contingent Member From Uganda Tested Positive For COVID-19

Tokyo 2020 Olympics illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Antonio Tajuelo)

JAKARTA - A member of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic contingent from Uganda, became the first person to test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Japan, ahead of the world games which will start on July 23.

The unnamed Ugandan is part of a nine-member contingent who have all been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, reports said.

The group, which included boxers, coaches, and officials, had also previously tested negative for COVID-19 before flying out of Uganda for Japan.

"However, one of them tested positive on arrival at Tokyo's Narita Airport on Saturday and was quarantined at a government-appointed facility, Japanese officials said, citing the BBC from local media, Monday 21 June.

Meanwhile, the rest of the squad who passed the test continued by charter bus to Osaka, in western Japan, where they will train ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

The Ugandan contingent is the second group of foreign athletes to arrive for training ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Previously, the Australian women's softball squad had arrived on June 1.

Separately, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will still be held this year with various restrictions, after last year was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The presence of spectators is one of the points of attraction for interested parties, with medical experts calling the absence of spectators, including local spectators, the least risky option. Meanwhile, Japanese officials want domestic audiences to attend whenever possible.

Tokyo reported 376 cases of COVID-19 and one death as of June 20, 72 more than a week ago, The Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. Meanwhile, polls in local media show public skepticism about the Olympics being held high amid the slow rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine.

So far, only 16 percent of Japan's population has received the COVID-19 vaccination, with officials and volunteers working at the Olympics starting to receive vaccinations on Friday last week.

Separately, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced a ban on-road travel, except for vehicles carrying tourists, emergency workers, and other essential services, tightening restrictions on Friday last week.

He also closed schools, universities, and places of worship for 42 days. Museveni said the restrictions were necessary because of the more aggressive and sustained growth of the virus.

"Over the past three weeks, the daily number of people testing positive has increased from less than 100 to more than 1,700. We experience very high rates of hospitalization and death for COVID-19 patients across all age categories", Museveni explained.