About 80 percent of people in Japan say this year's Tokyo Olympics should be cancelled or delayed as worries mount regarding a record surge in coronavirus cases across the country, a Kyodo News poll indicated on Sunday.

The survey suggested 35.3 percent want the Games to be cancelled and 44.8 percent favored another delay. The world's biggest multi-sports event, postponed last year due to the pandemic, is scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8 in the Japanese capital.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures on Thursday and could extend the measure to other areas as Japan struggles to contain a surge in infections.

According to the survey from Kyodo News, about 79 percent said Suga's decision to call the state of emergency for Tokyo came too late.

(With input from Reuters)