Minister Urges People To Watch Olympics At Home
Japan's health minister is encouraging people to watch the upcoming Tokyo Olympics at home.
Tamura Norihisa is also urging the public to avoid the higher risk of coronavirus infection involved in watching the games at sports bars or restaurants that serve alcohol.
Tamura made the call at a meeting of an Upper House committee on Thursday in connection with another state of emergency for Tokyo to be issued next week. The state of emergency is to be in effect through the Olympics, which officially run from July 23 to August 8.
The minister said the government will likely ask sports bars and other drinking establishments to close during the state of emergency.
He said the government needs to keep people from possibly contracting the virus by drinking and watching the Games at bars.
Tamura said he wants families to enjoy watching the Olympics together at home, as many events will be held at night.
An official from the Sports Agency commented on a school program for inviting local children in municipalities that host Olympic venues to the Games.
The official quoted the education minister as saying that if the government decides to hold the Olympics without spectators, children will be no exception. The official added that a decision on the matter will be made accordingly.