Japan raises coronavirus alert level near Tokyo months ahead of Olympics

An Olympic torch relay runner, centre left, carries the torch on the second day of the Osaka leg in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan (Hiro Komae/AP)

Japan decided to raise the coronavirus alert level in the capital’s three neighbouring prefectures and a fourth area in central Japan on Friday to allow tougher measures as a more contagious coronavirus variant spreads and adds to doubts about whether the Tokyo Olympics can go ahead.

The government approved the alert status for Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures in the capital region and Aichi in central Japan.