The US has advised its citizens against travel to Japan, just two months ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

The US State Department’s “do not travel” advisory did not mention the Olympics specifically but advised against travel to Japan now, due to the coronavirus situation in the country.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added: “Because of the current situation in Japan even fully-vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to Japan.”

But Japanese officials said they did not expect the advisory to affect the Olympics, which are scheduled to begin on 23 July, having been postponed last year.

Olympic Minister Tamayo Murakami said: “At present, we can see no particular impact.”

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee added: “We feel confident that the current mitigation practices in place for athletes and staff by both the USOPC and the Tokyo Organising Committee, coupled with the testing before travel, on arrival in Japan, and during Games time, will allow for safe participation of Team USA athletes this summer.”

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato added: “There is absolutely no change in the United States’ support for Japan’s decision to hold the Olympics, we believe.”

Japan initially escaped the large number of virus infections seen in many other countries but the current wave has prompted states of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and other cities.

Some 715,940 infections and 12,308 deaths from the virus have been recorded, but Japan has not even vaccinated 5% of its population – making its vaccination programme one of the slowest in the developed world.

Surveys have been published in Japan showing that a majority of people in the country think the Olympics should be postponed again or even cancelled due to concerns about the pandemic.

International spectators will not be allowed in to Japan to see the event but a decision has not yet been made about domestic spectators.

Related posts:

Emiliano Sala’s family taking legal action against Cardiff City over fatal plane crash Gunmen seize 30 students in latest Nigeria school kidnapping How many vaccines has each G7 country pledged to poorer nations? Eriksen ‘sends greetings to teammates’ from hospital following collapse during Euro 2020 match Fire breaks out at Andorra’s home stadium a day before England’s World Cup qualifier Little power, petrol or even paracetamol – it’s a wonder there isn’t open conflict in Lebanon La Palma volcano spews searing hot boulders the size of three-storey buildings ‘They do things that you don’t do to human beings’: Chinese whistleblower describes torture in Uyghur re-education camps Arrest warrant for grandfather accused of kidnapping sole survivor of cable car crash Eleven taking part in ritual drown in big waves on Indonesian beach Victims’ families urge start of new inquest into Ireland’s worst fire disaster ‘Very imminent’: Bombs could drop on Ukraine minutes after Putin gives order, armed forces minister says