Tokyo plans to use Olympic venues as medic centres

Authorities in the Japanese capital are considering plans to convert some of the city's Olympics and Paralympics venues into temporary medical facilities as they combat soaring COVID-19 infections that have piled pressure on the healthcare system. Japan's fifth wave of infections, which is being driven by the highly infectious Delta variant, has prompted the government to extend pandemic emergency measures in Tokyo and other regions until September 12. Planners of the Paralympics, set to run from Tuesday until Sept. 5, agreed last week to hold the Games generally without spectators, a measure taken at the recently concluded Olympics.