Disease outbreaks
People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk across a shopping alley near Ueno Station in Tokyo Friday, July 30, 2021. Japan is set to expand the coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo to neighboring areas and the western city of Osaka on Friday in the wake of a record-breaking surge in infections while the capital hosts the Olympics. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya)
Japan to widen virus emergency after record spike amid Games

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 30, 2021 03:06 AM EDT

Fiji players huddle up on the pitch after winning their men's rugby sevens gold medal match against New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
COVID-hit Fiji celebrates Olympic rugby sevens gold

By Steve Mcmorran Jul. 28, 2021 06:48 PM EDT

Member's of Fiji's team and staff hold a national flag, as they pose with their gold medals in men's rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Fiji beats New Zealand to clinch back-to-back Olympic titles

By John Pye Jul. 27, 2021 11:38 PM EDT

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk on a street in Tokyo Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Tokyo reports record virus cases days after Olympics begin

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 27, 2021 08:29 AM EDT

Associated Press Golf Writer Doug Ferguson was required to sign this form stating that he was denied entry upon landing at Haneda Airport to cover the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo on July 24, 2021. Ferguson's second of two COVID-19 tests required for entry in to Tokyo was 39 minutes early, resulting in a flight to Seattle for another test and then back to Tokyo. (AP Photo/Doug Ferguson)
VIRUS DIARY: A really, really, REALLY long Olympic journey

By Doug Ferguson Jul. 26, 2021 08:59 AM EDT

A flypast with Olympic-colored smoke by Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse team passes over the Tokyo Metropolitan Government complex during the final torch relay event for the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo Friday, July 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya)
In venue fit for head of state, Japan PM seeks Pfizer doses

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 23, 2021 02:20 AM EDT

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga wearing face masks pose for a photo at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)
Tokyo new virus cases near 2,000 a day before Olympics open

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 22, 2021 06:27 AM EDT

In this June 21, 2021, file photo, a resident receives a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot at their office in Tokyo. Tokyo's COVID-19 infections surged to a six-month high Wednesday, July 21, 2021, with the Olympic host city logging 1,832 new cases just two days before the Games open. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Tokyo virus cases hit 6-month high 2 days before Games open

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 21, 2021 05:50 AM EDT

People wearing face masks walk across an intersection in Tokyo on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Cases surge to 6-month high in Tokyo a week before Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 15, 2021 06:07 AM EDT

People wearing face masks chat before parting at a train station in Tokyo, Friday, July 9, 2021. A state of emergency began Monday, July 12, 2021, in Tokyo, as the number of new cases is climbing fast and hospital beds are starting to fill just 11 days ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Explainer: How will the virus emergency affect the Olympics?

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 12, 2021 04:38 AM EDT

People wearing face masks walk past the Olympics Rings statue in Tokyo, Thursday, July 8, 2021. Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency starting next week and lasting through the Olympics, with COVID-19 cases surging and feared to multiply during the Games. (Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan to declare virus emergency lasting through Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 07, 2021 10:42 PM EDT

Ireland's athletes for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games arrive at Narita international airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Thursday, July 1, 2021. The pressure of hosting an Olympics during a still-active pandemic is beginning to show in Japan. The games begin July 23, with organizers determined they will go on, even if stadiums and arenas reduce the number of spectators.(Kyodo News via AP)
As Tokyo Olympics approach, virus worries rise in Japan

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 06, 2021 12:01 AM EDT

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk through an underpass in Tokyo, Monday, June 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Japan ups health controls as Olympic athlete tests positive

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 28, 2021 05:09 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 6, 2021, file photo, local residents wait for receiving the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center in Yokohama, near Tokyo. After months of delays due to political and bureaucratic bungling as well as a shortage of vaccines, inoculations in Japan are taking off, and the drive is now racing down to the wire with the Olympics starting in one month. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Is Japan's remarkable vaccine drive in time for Olympics?

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 25, 2021 12:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 25, 2021, file photo, the celebration cauldron is seen lit on the first day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay in Naraha, Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan. The Tokyo Olympics are not looking like much fun: Not for athletes. Not for fans. And not for the Japanese public, who are caught between concerns about the coronavirus at a time when few are vaccinated on one side and politicians and the International Olympic Committee who are pressing ahead on the other. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Tokyo shapes up to be No-Fun Olympics with many rules, tests

By Stephen Wade Jun. 23, 2021 12:05 AM EDT

People walk by posters to promote the Olympic Games planned to start in the summer of 2021, in Tokyo, Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Japan announces easing of virus emergency ahead of Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 17, 2021 12:38 AM EDT

People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk along a pedestrian crossing Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Tokyo. The Japanese capital confirmed more than 500 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan looks to ease virus emergency ahead of Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 16, 2021 09:23 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 24, 2021, file photo, former sumo stable master Chiganoura, left, receives his first dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sporting arena. The arena, mainly used for sumo wrestling tournaments, is being used as a temporary inoculation venue for residents over 65 years old in Tokyo. Japan, seriously behind in coronavirus vaccination efforts, is scrambling to boost daily shots as the start of the Olympics in July closes in. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Japan's vaccine push ahead of Olympics looks to be too late

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 01, 2021 08:31 AM EDT

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga bows after a press conference at the prime minister's official residence Friday, May 28, 2021, in Tokyo. Japan extended a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas for 20 more days on Friday, with infections still not slowing as it prepares to host the Olympics in just over 50 days. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan extends virus emergency with safe Olympics at stake

By Mari Yamaguchi May. 28, 2021 01:52 AM EDT

People wearing masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk in front of a screen showing the news on U.S. warning against visits to Japan Tuesday, May 25, 2021, in Tokyo. U.S. health officials and the State Department on Monday warned Americans against travel to Japan because of a surge in coronavirus cases in the country, which is preparing to host the Olympics in just two months. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan says US travel warning for virus won't hurt Olympians

By Mari Yamaguchi May. 25, 2021 05:23 AM EDT