By YASUYUKI ONAYA/ Staff Writer
July 14, 2022 at 14:44 JST
Karen Makishima, minister of the Digital Agency (Koichi Ueda)
Karen Makishima, minister of the Digital Agency, who is on an official visit to Washington, has contracted the novel coronavirus, the agency announced on July 14.
Makishima, 45, took a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test there to prepare for her return to Japan.
She tested positive for COVID-19 on the morning of July 14, Japan time.
Makishima is self-isolating in a hotel room after canceling appointments that were scheduled during the remainder of her trip.
She is showing no symptoms such as a fever.
Makishima left Japan on July 11 to meet with the U.S. secretary of commerce and representatives of Japanese companies to exchange views on promoting cooperation between the two countries on digital- and cybersecurity-related issues.
Makishima was scheduled to depart from the United States in the early morning of July 16.
However, she will not be allowed to enter Japan until she tests negative for COVID-19.
The Digital Agency officials accompanying her on the trip tested negative for the virus.
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