[Photo/Agencies]

Osaka cancels Olympic torch run

大阪取消奥运火炬传递

Japan's western region of Osaka canceled on Wednesday Olympic torch events scheduled across the prefecture, as record coronavirus infections prompted its government to declare a medical emergency.

4月7日，由于日本大阪府新冠病毒新增感染人数攀升至历史最高水平，大阪当局宣布进入医疗紧急状态，原定在该地区举行的奥运火炬传递活动也被取消。

Health authorities fear a virus variant is unleashing a fourth wave of infections just 107 days before the Tokyo Olympics begins, with a vaccination drive still at an early stage.

现在距东京奥运会开幕只剩107天，日本卫生部门担心变种新冠病毒正在引发第四波疫情，而该国疫苗接种工作仍处于早期阶段。

Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said the street runs would be canceled, adding that the medical system faced enormous strain as a more infectious variant sent cases skyrocketing among young people.

大阪府知事吉村洋文表示，将取消公共道路上的火炬传递，他还补充道，由于变种病毒传染性更强，导致年轻人感染新冠病例激增，这使得医疗系统面临巨大的压力。

Osaka and the neighboring prefectures of Hyogo and Miyagi started on Monday a month of targeted lockdown measures, to rein in a more virulent strain of the virus.

从4月5日开始，大阪以及邻近的兵库县和宫城县开始了为期一个月的有针对性的封锁措施，以遏制正在蔓延的一种毒性更强的病毒毒株。

In recent days, Osaka's infections have outstripped those in Tokyo, the Japanese capital and a much larger city.

最近几天，大阪的感染人数已经超过了日本首都、国际大都市东京。

Emergency measures in the Osaka area could be widened to Tokyo and elsewhere if needed, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Sunday.

日本首相菅义伟4月4日表示，有需要的话，大阪地区采取的紧急措施可能会扩大到东京和其他地方。