COVIDiaries Japan: Danger of Business as Usual

Niigata Prefecture announced its 26th and 27th confirmed cases on March 21. No. 26, a company employee in his 30s, traveled to Fukuoka and Tokyo (by train) on business from 10-12 March, thereafter returning to his home in Nagaoka, Niigata. The man left again on the 15th, visiting Tokyo (by train) for the day on business. Despite experiencing chills and joint pain, the man traveled to Tokyo (by train) again the following day, returning to Nagaoka on the 17th. He visited a medical clinic that day, where he recorded a fever of 38C. From the following day he stayed home from work. On the 19th, coughing and experiencing diarrhea, he visited another clinic, where he tested negative for the flu.   On the 20th the man visited the city's only hospital capable of administering the PCR exam. The following day a positive result for COVID-19 was announced.