Centenarian’s dream dashed

Tokyo – The world’s oldest person, a Japanese woman aged 118, has given up her spot in the Olympic torch relay due to a surge in Covid-19 cases across the country.

Kane Tanaka, from Fukuoka in southern Japan, had been planning to use a wheelchair to carry the torch when it passed through the city on Tuesday.

But her family said in a statement yesterday that Tanaka would no longer participate because “the spread of the coronavirus has not been contained”.

The government extended a virus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas yesterday and also imposed the restrictions in Fukuoka and one other region.

The measure, in place until 31 May, restricts commercial activity but is less strict than the blanket lockdowns seen in other countries.

The Olympics are scheduled for 23 July to 8 August.