22nd August, 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began working remotely on Monday after testing positive for COVID-19 a day earlier.
This was disclosed by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, during a press conference.
Kishida, 65, is only displaying mild symptoms of the virus and was able to attend a meeting remotely from his official residence on Monday morning.
Matsuno said plans were being made so that the Japanese leader can take part in as many upcoming events as possible, by virtual and other means.
According to Matsuno, the Japanese prime minister has to isolate until Aug. 30.
One such event Kishida may be able to take part in virtually was the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), to be held in Tunisia on Aug. 27 and 28.
Kishida’s planned visit to the Middle East after TICAD was likely to be cancelled, government sources said.
Kishida received his fourth COVID-19 vaccination shot on Aug. 12, just before the beginning of his summer vacation on Aug. 15.
Japan is currently in the grip of the seventh wave of COVID-19 infections and reported record daily cases on Friday as the BA.5 Omicron subvariant of the virus continues to run rampant nationwide.
Xinhua/NAN