58 people at Chiba welfare facility for persons with disabilities infected with new coronavirus

Written with extracts translated from NHK & Kyodo

March 28th 2020

CHIBA – Chiba Prefecture has announced that 57 new cases of the coronavirus infection have been found at a welfare facility for people with disabilities in Higashisho-cho.

The group infection occurred at the Hokuso Ikusei-en facility in the town of Tonosho, where people with disabilities engage in craftwork, horticulture and other activities.

A woman in her 40s who lives in Katori city, who is working at the facility as a cook. was already confirmed as having the new coronavirus on Friday.

Chiba Governor Kensaku Morita held a press conference on the night of the 28th, calling it a “grave situation” and  saying that a total of 58 people were newly infected, including 32 of the staff of the Hokuso Ikusei-en facility as well as 26 of the residents.

The facility has 63 staff and 70 residents in their 20s to 80s, and 37 people had symptoms of fever, so the Prefecture conducted a virus test.

Since there are some residents who have not been tested yet, the staff and residents have to wait at home or in their own room for virus tests.