Japan Says Olympics Must Not Burden Medical Systems

Japan Says Olympics Must Not Burden Medical Systems
The Olympic rings are illuminated in front of the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 22, 2021. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
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TOKYO—The Olympics must not be a burden on medical systems, Japan’s chief government spokesman said on Friday, amid worries that daily athlete testing will tax health resources already stressed in fighting a rebound of COVID-19 cases.

The Games will be held in a manner that makes everyone feel safe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters, responding to concerns raised by a nurses’ union that the world’s biggest sporting event will sap medical resources needed by the public.