Even as the Olympics draw near, U.S. warns against traveling to Japan due to COVID-19 pandemic

Mere months before the summer Olympics are slated to kick off, the U.S. is warning people not to travel to Japan due to COVID-19.

"Travelers should avoid all travel to Japan," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Because of the current situation in Japan even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to Japan," the CDC warned.

"Do not travel to Japan due to COVID-19," the U.S. State Department warned. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Japan due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country."

The Olympics, which were originally scheduled to occur in 2020 but were postponed due to the pandemic, are now slated to begin in July.

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee in a statement on Monday expressed confidence that American athletes will be able to safely compete.

"We feel confident that the current mitigation practices in place for athletes and staff by both the USOPC and the Tokyo Organizing Committee, coupled with the testing before travel, on arrival in Japan, and during Games time, will allow for safe participation of Team USA athletes this summer.”