Japanese man who went to karaoke bar to ‘spread’ coronavirus dies in hospital
- Despite testing positive for Covid-19, the man went to a Filipino pub in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture. An employee was later found to be infected
- Meanwhile, Japan will ask travellers from 38 European and other countries, including Egypt and Iran, to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving
This came as Japan reported 39 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, taking its total to 876 cases.
After testing positive with the pneumonia-causing virus on March 4, the 57-year-old man from Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, went to the pub in the city that evening despite a request by health officials to stay at home. The local authorities said they did not have power to prohibit him from going out.
Police launched an investigation into the man, whose identity has not been released, last Friday after a woman in her 30s working at the pub tested positive for the virus, which causes Covid-19. The woman’s nationality has not been disclosed.
The police had planned to question him on suspicion of obstruction of business after he left the hospital, to which he was admitted on March 5.