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Top Japanese Doctor Says Olympics 'Difficult' Without Vaccine

VOA News

   The head ofthe Japan Medical Association said Tuesday it will be
   difficult for the country to hostthe rescheduled Olympics next year
   without a coronavirus vaccine available.

   "I am not saying that Japan should or shouldn't host the Olympics, but
   that it would be difficult to do so,"saidYoshitake Yokokura. "Unless an
   effective vaccine is developed, I expect hosting the Olympics will be
   difficult."

   The pandemic forced organizers to abandon plans to hold the games this
   July, opting instead to postpone the event that draws thousands of
   athletes from all over the world.

   Multiple countries are currently working on developing vaccines, but
   experts have cautioned the process to test both the safety and
   effectiveness of vaccine candidates, plus manufacturing doses, could
   take 12 to 18 months.

   The coronavirus outbreak has prompted officials to put billions of
   people under various stay-at-home orders and tell non-essential
   businesses to close their doors.

   The result has been increases in unemployment, massive revenue cuts and
   governments balancing the need to stop the spread of the virus with
   economic concerns. Some have enacted financial rescue packages to help
   put money in people's pockets andkeepbusinesses afloat.

   U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock suggested a $90 billion effort to
   help provide income, food and health aid for the world's most
   vulnerable people at a time when experts say the pandemic has not yet
   reached the poorest parts of the planet.

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