US citizens told to avoid Japan visits

The United States on Monday raised its travel alert for Japan to the highest level, warning its citizens against all travels to the country due to growing risks posed by COVID-19.

With the start of the Tokyo Olympics less than two months away, the US State Department said in an announcement that "Do not travel to Japan due to COVID-19" while raising the department's travel alert from Level 3"Reconsider travel" to Level 4"Do not travel".

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the US in Atlanta released a new COVID-19 update, which said: "Because of the current situation in Japan, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to Japan."

In response, Japanese officials saw no impact on the Games from the US advisory. "At present, we can see no particular impact," Japan's Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa told a news conference on Tuesday.

International spectators will not be allowed to enter Japan to attend the Games but athletes and their entourage can do so. A decision has yet to be made on domestic viewers.