TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s cabinet said on Friday an official had tested positive for the coronavirus, making him the third case among officials at the cabinet office.
The case inside the cabinet office comes as Japan has expanded a state of emergency to all regions. The move allows local municipalities to urge people to stay inside, but without punitive measures or legal force.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans a press conference later on Friday on the coronavirus, but details are not known yet.
With more than 9,000 infections and nearly 200 deaths nationally, Abe said on Thursday the government is considering cash payouts for all in an effort to cushion the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The infected cabinet official in his 50s works at the cabinet’s council for science, technology and innovation, but had no close contact with ministers around when he developed symptoms from April 10, an official at the cabinet office said.
He was confirmed with the virus on April 16.
Two officials who worked with the man, and were within two meters, are staying at home, based on cabinet policy, according to the cabinet office.
Both have yet to test for the virus but public health centers in their towns will decide, depending on their conditions, according to the cabinet.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park, Izumi Nakagawa, and Yoshifumi Takemoto; Editing by Michael Perry)
