TOKYO, Japan (AP) – Fans are banned from the upcoming Tokyo Olympics as the city falls under a state of emergency due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, including the highly-contagious Delta variant.
The International Olympics Committee and Japanese organizers announced the ban which comes months after fans from oversees were blocked from attending.
The new measures that had announced by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will clear venues indoor and out around the city.
Suga said the state of emergency goes into effect next Monday and last through August 22nd, the Associated Press reports.
The Olympics open July 23rd and runs through August 8th. The Paralympics open August 24th.
The abrupt declaration put a hitch in plans for IOC President Thomas Back, who landed in Tokoyo Thursday, just hours before the new measures were announced, according to the Associated Press.
He was set to self isolate at a hotel that houses IOC members.
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