Paralaympic flame arrives in Tokyo amid rise in Covid-19 cases

The Paralympic flame arrived in Tokyo on Friday as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Japan. As many as 25,000 daily infections were reported on Thursday as the nation deals with a fifth wave due to the severe Delta variant. 86 people directly involved with the mega event have already contracted the infection.

The flame lighting ceremony was held without spectators.

With four days to go for the Games, organisers have urged all participants and officials to abide by rules and not take the pandemic lightly.

"The infection situation today is different to how it was before the Olympics. It has deteriorated. And the local medical system is also in a very tight situation," he told reporters after a meeting of experts to discuss Covid-19 measures. Para athletes, compared to Olympic athletes, risk having even more serious symptoms, so we need to be even more careful," an official said.