The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on March 10 that Director General of the General Council Bureau Koichi Mizushima has been infected with the new coronavirus. 

Prior to this, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi immediately canceled the press conference on the same day “as a precautionary measure. 

The ministry said "It is unlikely that the foreign ministry will be judged as a close contact person, but we took care of it." 

This is the first time that the director of the central ministry has confirmed the infection. 

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mizushima’s family member was also confirmed to be infected on April 10.

The family member had developed a high fever on April 9 and subsequently received a PCR test on Friday. Infection results, which were revealed on the same day, confirmed that the family member had tested positive for the virus.

Mr. Mizushima had a meeting with Mr. Motegi on the April 6 and April 7, but he said he was wearing a mask. 

Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that there were no close contacts in the ministry, since he hadworked from home on April 8 to care for his family. 

The route of transmission will be investigated by health centers.　

The consular affairs bureau is mainly responsible for protecting Japanese nationals overseas. 

Mr. Mizushima spearheaded the mission from late January to mid-February, dispatching government charter planes to return to Japanese residents in Wuhan, China.

JIJI Press