Yahoo TV

A Tokyo hospital director has warned that the city's medical system is facing collapse if more beds for COVID-19 patients are not secured immediately.

Hironori Sagara, the head of Tokyo's Showa University Hospital, says the situation in the Olympics' host city is critical.

"If the number of COVID-19 patients rises further, we will have to impose restrictions on surgery or stop treatment for heart attacks and strokes in order to secure more beds. That is the stage we're in."

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo is rising - 3,709 new cases were recorded on Tuesday (August 3).

Sagara has said that the number of beds that can accept COVID patients is now close to zero.

"We must avoid a situation in which the Olympics was held, but the medical system collapsed."

Japanese authorities said on Monday (August 2) that only seriously ill COVID-19 patients would now be hospitalized to try to ease the burden on healthcare services. This while others isolate at home.

The announcement came as the state of emergency there was expanded beyond Tokyo.

On Tuesday (August 3) the head of the Japan Medical Association called for the state of emergency to be extended nationwide.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Olympics organizers say there is no link between the Summer Games and the recent increase in cases.

But medical experts have said holding the sporting event sent a confusing message about the need to stay home, contributing to the rise.