The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are right around the corner and the Wuhan Coronavirus has the entire nation concerned. There are expected to be millions of visitors across Japan to support the Olympics, and Japan is worried a coronavirus outbreak may have a devastating impact on the nation:
Although Japan has seen just one case, the outbreak highlights the risk of contagion given the millions of visitors expected for the Summer Games.
“We have to be very careful about what kind of infectious diseases will appear at the Tokyo Olympics,” Kazuhiro Tateda, president of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, told a briefing on Wednesday.
“At these kinds of mass gatherings, the risks increase that infectious diseases and resistant bacteria can be carried in.”
Being a Tokyo resident, and someone who frequently travels abroad, this virus is extremely concerning. On the one hand, I do not want to unknowingly catch something while abroad on business. On the other, I do not want the influx of tourists to have any major, lasting health effects on Japan.