Japanese Government considers private healthcare requirement for Tokyo 2020 visitors

The Japanese Government is reportedly considering making private health insurance compulsory for visitors attending next year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

According to Kyodo News, a proposal was presented by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The proposal would reportedly see visitors required to take out private health insurance coverage, as well as testing negative for coronavirus.

Visitors may also be required to submit a report on their health status.

The proposal has been made due to the current system requiring the Japanese public to bear the financial cost of treating overseas visitors.

This became an issue earlier this year regarding the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The cruise ship was docked in Yokohama in February when it recorded around 700 coronavirus infections, with Japanese hospitals ultimately treating visitors with the infections.

Laws would need to be amended for private health coverage to be required, Kyodo News reported.

The Olympics are now scheduled for July 23 to August 8, followed by the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5.

Organisers are working on a series of coronavirus countermeasures to protect athletes and spectators during their stay in the Japanese capital.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has recently revealed her hopes of holding the Games with "full spectators present".

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshirō Mutō has also previously said measures for fans, including non-Japanese residents, would be drawn up by the spring.

Hopes of a successful staging of the Games have been boosted by progress in the development of COVID-19 vaccines, although it may still be some time before they are available to the wider public.

posted Monday November 30th
by Michael Pavitt