Coronavirus: Japan identifies 15 infection clusters, with biggest from music venues in Osaka

Japan’s health ministry has released an online map of coronavirus infections, as the number of cases rose to 804, excluding the Diamond Princess

This came as schools in areas with no Covid-19 infections started to reopen

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Four small music venues have been linked to a coronavirus cluster of over 50 people in Osaka, Japan. Photo: Twitter

Published: 1:02pm, 16 Mar 2020Updated: 1:06pm, 16 Mar 2020

Japan has found 15 clusters of people infected with the novel coronavirus, according to the health ministry, which released an online map showing where they are located in the country as of noon on Sunday.

Based on analysis by Hitoshi Oshitani, a virology professor at Tohoku University, and other experts, the map indicates clusters of 50 people or over in red, 10 to 49 in blue, and five to nine in green.

The only cluster with 50 or more people infected is in Osaka Prefecture, where infections spread from events held at live music clubs, according to the map.

A map released by the Japanese ministry of health showing coronavirus clusters in the country. Photo: Handout

Clusters of 10 to 49 people are found in 10 locations, including Hokkaido, where infections spread from a live music bar, Tokyo, where the people gathered for a new year party on a boat, and Aichi Prefecture, where the virus was contracted at a welfare facility and a gym.

Small clusters of five to nine people were found in four locations, including Chiba Prefecture, where infections were found among those at a gym and a welfare facility.