The Japanese government said that the latest U.S. travel warning will not affect the preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games and the visit by the American delegation.
The U.S. State Department on Monday raised its travel warning level to the highest of "Do Not Travel," citing a surge in COVID-19 cases in Japan caused by virus variants that may even be risks to vaccinated people.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a regular news conference on Tuesday: "We believe there is no change to the U.S. position supporting the Japanese government's determination to achieve the Games."
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made a similar announcement when addressing a parliamentary committee, noting that "Travel (from the United States to Japan) is not banned when it is necessary...I know that there is no change whatsoever in the U.S. position that it will support the Japanese government's decision to go ahead with the Olympics and Paralympics."
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike also believes that the United States issued the travel advisory based on the infection situation across Japan, not just Tokyo, Kyodo news agency said.
"We will need to exert all our efforts to make the games safe and secure," Koike said.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said in a statement afterward that the elevated travel warning to Japan will not affect the visit by its delegation to the Tokyo Games.
