Paralympics organisers tighten virus rules as cases surge

 TOKYO - Tokyo Paralympics organisers said Sunday
they were tightening virus rules, including upping testing and further
limiting movement, as Japan battles a record wave of infections days before
the opening ceremony.

  The Games open on Tuesday after a year-long pandemic delay and following
the Olympics, which ended on August 8 and was hailed by organisers as proof
their virus rules worked.

  Olympic organisers have reported 547 cases linked to the Games since July
1, but there are already 131 cases among Paralympics participants with two
days until the opening ceremony.

  And Japan has reported more than 25,000 daily cases nationwide in recent
days, even with multiple regions including Tokyo under virus states of
emergency.

  Paralympics participants, like their Olympic counterparts, are governed by
so-called playbooks that mandate mask-wearing, daily tests for athletes, and
limits on movement.

  But Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said Sunday "taking further careful
measures is necessary".

  These will include requiring Japan-based staff at the Paralympic Village --
currently being tested every four days -- to be tested daily.

  And a rule allowing some participants to travel on public transport and
move around freely after 14 days of restrictions will be scrapped.

  "We ask them to take meals in facilities inside the Olympic venues or
hotels they are staying at, eating individually without talking," Muto said.

  "As to places they can visit, we ask them to limit that to places on their
list of work."

  Previously, some participants had been able to use public transport and
move around without prior authorisation after 14 days in the country.

  Most of those linked to the Paralympics who have tested positive so far are
Japan-based Games staff and contractors, though four athletes and 10 media
workers have also tested positive.

  Japan's overall virus outbreak remains relatively small compared with some
hard-hit nations, with around 15,500 deaths despite avoiding harsh lockdowns.

  But the country's vaccine roll-out started slowly and officials are now
racing to inoculate residents, with around 40 percent of the population fully vaccinated.BSS/AFP