Tokyo 2020 organisers are rattled by an outbreak of Covid-19 among police guarding the athletes at the Olympic Village.
Some 12 officers who have tested positive and a further 38 of their colleagues suspected of contracting the highly infectious virus have been put into strict isolation following the discovery.
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The policemen, all in their 20s, make up half of a special deployment of 100 from the Hyogo province to provide security for athletes at their accommodation during the Games.
The squadron had been staying at a cramped dormitory accommodation in a Tokyo suburb where they had to share washing facilities which have been blamed for the explosion in cases.
However, despite the outbreak, officers from the same Hyogo unit continue to man security posts at the Olympic Village and were seen interacting with the athletes and the public today.
Tokyo 2020 organisers have tried to play down the outbreak.
But the rank and file officers in the unit have told their concerns.
One said: ‘It’s only the Hyogo Prefectural Police who keep having these outbreaks of the coronavirus. Maybe we are cursed.’
He added that the cramped accommodation had caused the virus to spread like wildfire.
‘There were not enough toilets or bathrooms at the police dormitory and it became too crowded.
‘That is the cause of this virus cluster.
‘The coronavirus is spreading and I am scared.
‘Morale is so low.
‘Some of the officers say that the coronavirus is more frightening than working at a natural disaster.’
An urgent review of security measures around the Olympic Village was underway yesterday to combat any spread of the virus.
Team GB declined to comment about the Covid-19 outbreak among police guarding the Athletes Village but said that their robust Covid-19 protocols meant their team members were not under any obvious direct threat.
Tokyo 2020 declined to comment.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government record 3.177 new Covid-19 infections yesterday – a 12 percent increase from the day before and topping the 3,000 marks for the first time.