Eight Tokyo Olympic torch relay staff members for the Tokyo Olympics have been tested positive for Covid-19 today, May 4, as reported by Times. 

All of them were responsible for controlling traffic at the event and were wearing masks at the time, reported Japan Times. 

A total of eight staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start on March 25 of the Japan leg of the torch relay, which the organizers have scaled back in some areas for fear of causing infection clusters.

The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for one year due to the pandemic and are scheduled to start July 23.

According to an April poll by Kyodo News, more than 70% of the people in Japan want the Tokyo Olympics to be cancelled or postponed.

During the relay, which journeys from Tokyo to Fukushima since March 25, have faced heckling and protests.

However, the Japanese government will still proceed with the Tokyo Olympics. They had released their latest Covid-19 protocols, including frequent Covid-19 testing but did not require quarantines or vaccinations before the games. 

The Tokyo Olympics will be closed to spectator abroad but still considering to open for Japanese spectators.