COVID-19: 12 Japanese judo staff test positive

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The Japanese judo association said 12 people including a senior director were infected with the novel coronavirus.

The All Japan Judo Federation said Monday in a statement that a total of 12 staff members, including managing director Soya Nakazato, tested positive for COVID-19.

The country's judo association said that the first infected case was reported on April 4 as one staff member was contaminated by the virus.

On April 12, 62-year-old Nakazato was infected.

Japan's judo body added that Nakazato had a fever on April 5, but following the tests, he was confirmed positive.

Over 1.92 million COVID-19 cases have now been reported in 185 countries and regions since the virus emerged in China last December, with Europe and the U.S. being the worst-hit areas.

The global death toll has surpassed 120,000, while 461,800 have recovered around the world so far, according to the U.S.-based figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Japan reported 7,645 positive cases but the death toll from coronavirus was 143.

Last week, Japan declared a state of emergency in at least seven provinces, the first time in the country's history, to stem the spread of the coronavirus.