Govt. To Expand Scope Of Virus Tests
Japan's health ministry plans to expand its scope for coronavirus tests following revelations that two people who had not been to the Chinese city of Wuhan were found to have been infected.
The ministry now carries out tests only on those who develop a fever or display symptoms of pneumonia after having traveled to Wuhan or had contact with pneumonia patients from Wuhan.
But on Tuesday, a male bus driver in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, was confirmed to have the new-type coronavirus. The following day, a female tour guide from the same bus tested positive.
Medical institutions that examined the two individuals were not obliged to report their condition to the public health office, because they had not been to Wuhan or had contact with patients showing symptoms of pneumonia.
The tour guide went to see a doctor on Monday last week after developing a fever. She contacted a public health office on Thursday.
Authorities carried out a virus test on Tuesday, only after the driver of the bus she rode tested positive.
Health ministry officials say the scope for tests might have been too small. They are considering how much it should be broadened.
