120 people at Chiba welfare facility, site of ‘mass infection’ now test negative for COVID-19

Written with extracts translated from NHK

May 15 2020

CHIBA – Regarding a welfare facility for persons with disabilities in, Chiba Prefecture, where a mass infection occurred with approximately 120 new coronavirus cases found, the Prefectural government confirmed on the May 14 that recent COVID-19 tests, including those who were receiving treatment within the facility, came back negative.

At the end of March, a total of 121 people including 54 inhabitants, 40 staff, 27 families and visitors have been infected with the new coronavirus at Hokuso Ikusei-en Nursery Center, a welfare facility for people with disabilities in Tonosho town, Chiba Prefecture.

At this facility, there were some residents who were difficult to be hospitalized due to the nature of their disabilities, and many were receiving treatment while staying in the facility. The test was negative for 50 people.

All those confirmed as infected now test negative for the new coronavirus.

In response to this, the prefecture dissolved the local countermeasures headquarters on the 14th.

Hiroshi Ishide, Deputy Director of the Health and Welfare Department of Chiba Prefecture, who was the Head of the Countermeasures Headquarters, said, “It was difficult to separate the dangerous area from the safe area.”

At this facility, two of the infected residents died at the hospital where they were hospitalized, and two are still hospitalized.