2 medallists banished from Olympics as organizers clamp down on COVID-19 violations
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Tokyo Olympics organizers say they have banished six people, including two silver medallists from the country of Georgia, for breaking rules designed to protect against COVID-19.
Toshiro Muto, the games chief executive, said it was a "clear and serious violation" of the so-called playbooks of health and safety rules for two Georgian judokas to go sight-seeing.
Vazha Margvelashvili and Lasha Shavdatuashvili were seen near Tokyo Tower on Tuesday, after their events were finished.
Muto said the Georgian embassy in Tokyo has apologized.
Tokyo Olympics 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto is seen in Tokyo on July 9. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool via AP) The other four were accredited contractors from Britain and the United States arrested for allegedly using cocaine before the Olympics opened.
Muto said there have been eight cases of games credentials being temporarily suspended.
In four cases, organizers collected a "signed pledge" from people suspected of breaking rules. Ten strict warnings were issued, Muto said
Separately, organizers say they're investigating an outdoor drinking party involving multiple athletes at the village where they're staying.
People are seen inside the Olympic village in Tokyo on Thursday. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters) The 11,000 Olympic athletes were warned before the games that drinking alcohol in groups was a breach of the so-called playbook rules to protect against COVID-19 infections. They can drink alone in their rooms.
In the most serious cases of breaking rules, athletes can be removed from the village and have their Olympic credential taken.
Muto said in translated comments "we are investigating the situation and based on the result we are to take appropriate action." He said police arrived at the village after Friday's incident, though he was unaware of their response.
What's happening in Canada
A person self-administers a COVID-19 rapid test in Halifax on Sunday. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC) As of Sunday, more than 198.1 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 4.2 million deaths had been reported.
In Europe, thousands turned out in Berlin on Sunday to protest the German government's anti-coronavirus measures despite a ban on the gatherings, leading to clashes with police and the detention of some 600 protesters.
Germany eased many of its coronavirus restrictions in May, including reopening restaurants and bars. Still, many activities, such as dining indoors at restaurants or staying in a hotel, require proof that an individual is either fully vaccinated, has recovered from the virus or can show proof of a recent negative coronavirus test.
In Africa, more than 6.6 million cases have been confirmed on the continent since the start of the pandemic, with infections rising in West Africa. About 168,000 deaths have been attributed to the illness, according to Africa's World Health Organization chapter.
In Asia, Cambodia began a nationwide drive to vaccinate minors against the coronavirus. The country aims to inoculate about two million of people aged 12 to 17 years before November of this year, beginning in Phnom Penh Municipality and three nearby provinces.
Like its neighbours in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is struggling with a surge in cases. The Health Ministry reported 671 new cases on Sunday and another 23 deaths. It has confirmed a total of 77,914 cases and 1,420 deaths.
A young person is administered a COVID-19 vaccine shot in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sunday. (Cindy Liu/Reuters) In the Americas, COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a record 10,207 in the U.S. state of Florida on Sunday â€" just a day after it reported its most new daily cases since the start of the pandemic.
Florida is now leading the U.S. in per capita hospitalizations for COVID-19, as hospitals around the state report having to put emergency room visitors in beds in hallways and others document a noticeable drop in the age of patients.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and along with the state legislature, has limited local officials' ability to impose restrictions meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. DeSantis on Friday barred school districts from requiring students to wear masks when classes resume next month.
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