TOKYO (Reuters): Olympic host city Tokyo reported a record number of coronavirus cases on Tuesday even as athletes continued to compete across the city in the fourth day of the Games, with Naomi Osaka making a surprise exit from the tennis tournament.

Tokyo, which remains under a state of emergency, reported 2,848 daily cases on Tuesday, in line with warnings by health experts that seasonal factors, increased mobility, and the spread of variants would lead to a rebound in COVID-19 this summer.

Kenji Shibuya, a former director of the Institute for Population Health at King’s College London, said the surge was due to a “systematic failure of the government response to COVID-19”, saying the government did not suppress transmission, ramp up vaccinations and sent the wrong message that people should stay home but also celebrate the Games.

Tokyo’s virus cases are counted separately from those reported in the Olympic village. Athletes and other officials who have travelled from abroad to participate in the Games are separated from the public, and spectators have been banned from most venues.

Games organisers have reported a total of 155 cases associated with the Olympics.

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