The number of coronavirus infections started to rise as two people residing in the Olympic village in Tokyo have tested positive, according to officials.
Organisers confirmed the positive tests on Sunday and both were listed as non-Japanese. No names or other details were provided.
Another athlete had tested positive but this person was not residing in the Olympic Village. This athlete was also identified as “non-Japanese.”
It comes after the first coronavirus case inside the Olympic village was confirmed on Saturday, although the person was an event organiser.
Organisers say since the beginning of July, 55 people linked to the Olympics have reported positive for the coronavirus. That figure includes athletes or others who may have arrived for training camps but are not yet under the “jurisdiction” of the organising committee.
The Olympic Village on Tokyo Bay will house 11,000 Olympic athletes and thousands of other support staff.
Tokyo recorded 1,410 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest in six months. It was the 28 straight day that cases were higher than seven days previous.
The Olympics will open on Friday under a state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures. The emergency order lasts until August 22. The Olympics close on August 8.
Fans — local and fans from abroad — have been banned for all Olympic events in Tokyo and the three neighbouring prefectures. As few outlying venues may allow a smattering of local fans.
