English abstract
“You should not judge by the number of COVID-19 positive cases.”
In Europe and the United States, a “no masked audience” is natural. Why, then, do active clinicians complain that the “Olympic games should be done with spectators”?
The Tokyo Olympics will begin on July 23, 2021. According to the consensus of a meeting among experts, the government has announced a policy that many competitions will be held without spectators to prevent the spread of infection.
In my opinion, this decision may require reconsideration for the following reasons.
1. Severe cases of the COVID-19 infection in Japan tended to be concentrated on the elderly. In response, nearly all population of the elderly has been vaccinated.
2. The number of serious injuries peaked at 1,413 on May 26, 2021, which has continued to decline and has even dropped to merely below 400.
3. Currently, the increase in the number of COVID-19-positive cases occurs among from youth to middle age, and many are asymptomatic or mild cases.
For these reasons, I believe that the Olympics warrants an audience. Until now, Japan has been plagued by totalitarianism, which takes advantage of excessive anxiety. The meeting among experts continues to deny that the measures taken by the government are sutisfied. The public continues to obey uncriticism. This denial further causes man-made disasters in Japan. However, questions are now being raised.
I hope that Japan will shift from totalitarianism, which has abandoned the freedom to follow false leaders, to a free country, where individuals are prepared and responsible.
I hope that holding the Olympics with an audience will be a catalyst of this change in our country. It will also bring relief and hope to the people in the world.