Three nationals coming back from Wuhan were tested positive for the novel coronavirus. (Image via Metro)

3 Japanese returnees from Wuhan positive for novel coronavirus

Having been brought back home to Japan from Wuhan on Wednesday, three Japanese nationals among the 206 nationals were tested positive for the novel coronavirus according to the statement from Japan’s Ministry of Health on Thursday.

From the 206 nationals, having arrived in Tokyo, about 204 were tested for the novel coronavirus. The remaining two did not consent. Twelve Japanese were hospitalized including two men in their 40s and 50s with pneumonia.

About 210 Japanese returnees arrived in Tokyo on Thursday on the second chartered evacuation flight by the Japanese government. Currently, the Japanese government is considering sending a third chartered flight to evacuate another 200 Japanese nationals in the novel coronavirus’ ground zero.

The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, said that the protection of Japanese citizens is the greatest responsibility for him. Therefore, the Japanese government is doing its best to contain the virus from going viral even further in Japan.

Japan is on high alert to contain the virus from spreading between individuals. This week alone, a bus driver and a tour guide in Japan, without prior record of traveling to China or Wuhan, were found infected by the novel coronavirus, marking the first case of infection between humans.

The tour guide in his 40s is a foreign national, while the bus driver is a Nara resident, the first Japanese person to be infected domestically. He was believed to be in close contact with the tour guide.

Another 440 Japanese nationals already pleaded to the Japanese government to pick them up from Wuhan. Japan’s Foreign Ministry expected the number to grow.

These incidents were the first time for the Japanese government to charter a plane to evacuate its nationals due to an infectious disease.

Source: https://bit.ly/2OdC4JA