TOKYO: Japan's health ministry has compiled measures to prevent pregnant women from being infected with the new coronavirus, informed sources told Jiji Press on Wednesday.

The ministry will call on companies and business organizations to promote teleworking and staggered commuting, create an environment in which pregnant women find it easier to take leave when they feel unwell, and take measures to prevent group infections among employees including such women, according to the sources.

In addition, the ministry will distribute a booklet detailing infection prevention measures to pregnant women through municipal governments.

The booklet will say there have been no reports that the new coronavirus is prone to cause abnormalities in the fetus or lead to stillbirth or miscarriage.

Still, it will cite the possibility of pregnant women suffering severe symptoms if they get pneumonia, calling on them to take thorough measures to protect themselves from the virus, such as avoiding crowds and washing hands frequently, according to the sources.

The ministry plans to provide cloth masks to pregnant women through municipal governments, separately from a government program to distribute two such masks to each of the over 50 million households in the country.

JIJI Press