TOKYO: The organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics has asked the Japanese Nursing Association to secure 500 nurses as medical staff for the Tokyo Games this summer, it was learned Monday.

The request for nurses to work at the athlete’s village and venues of the Tokyo Games was reported Sunday by the Japanese Communist Party’s Akahata newspaper.

There are concerns over nurse shortages due to the spread of the new coronavirus.

Commenting on the news report, the committee said that it has asked the Japanese government and the Tokyo metropolitan government to consider financial support aimed at facilitating dispatches of medical staff.

The committee also said that it will make preparations for the Tokyo Games while avoiding effects on local medical systems.

The Japanese government has said it is working on securing some 10,000 medical staff, who will be asked to work for some five days each during the Tokyo Games.

The government has also said the Tokyo Games is seen needing up to some 300 doctors and 400 nurses per day.

With upper limits on the number of spectators at the events yet to be decided, it is difficult to forecast the number of medical staff necessary for the Tokyo Games now, sources familiar with the situation said.

The committee said it will create conditions to allow doctors and nurses to offer their support for the events easily.

JIJI Press