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Updated March 17th, 2020 at 19:41 IST

Olympics organisers ask public not to attend torch relay

Organizers of Tokyo's Summer Olympics on Tuesday asked the general public to stay away from Friday's torch relay if feeling unwell, in order to avoid a further spread of the new coronavirus.

Olympics organisers ask public not to attend torch relay
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Organizers of Tokyo's Summer Olympics on Tuesday asked the general public to stay away from Friday's torch relay if feeling unwell, in order to avoid a further spread of the new coronavirus.At a briefing on Tuesday, CEO of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Toshiro Muto said there would be no public participants at the official ceremony that is set to mark the start of the relay.

As for cheering from the roadside, Muto asked those who are feeling unwell not to come.

He added that alternative measures might be implemented if crowds become too large.

Muto also shrugged off suggestions that the Japanese public was not confident the Games would go ahead as planned, saying that both the situation and public opinion was shifting "minute-by-minute."

"The IOC (International Olympic Committee), the government, the hosting city, everyone is to proceed as planned," he declared.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

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Published March 17th, 2020 at 19:45 IST

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