An official has become the first resident at the Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village to test positive for Covid-19, Games organisers confirmed on Saturday.
The affected individual from overseas tested negative on arrival in Japan but subsequently tested positive in a test taken in the screening process inside the village.
The person is identified as “Games-concerned personnel”, and has been placed into a 14-day quarantine.
The news will be a big concern for organisers who have previously stated the Olympic Village would be the “safest place” in Tokyo.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed for a year due to the global pandemic, is being held mostly without spectators and under tight quarantine rules from July 23 through to August 8.
Organisers also confirmed the number of positive cases among those linked to the Games has risen to 44. At least five athletes are among this number.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government reported 1,410 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday – the highest single-day spike in nearly six months and topping 1,000 for the fourth straight day.
Speaking at a news conference, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto confirmed a non-resident of Japan who is involved in organising the Games had tested positive, adding that the individual has been taken into quarantine outside of the village. He would not reveal the person’s nationality, citing privacy concerns.
There have now been a total of 45 Covid-19 cases linked to the Games, with athletes, officials and contractors testing positive for the virus. Athletes are just starting to arrive for the Games, which run July 23 through August 8.
