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Japan

Japanese princess hospitalised with COVID

Japan’s Princess Yoko has been hospitalised with COVID-19.

The Imperial Household Agency confirmed the Princess’s diagnosis and hospitalisation on 8 February. The 38-year-old royal is the first member of the Imperial Family to contract COVID-19.

The Princess tested positive on 8 February after complaining of a sore throat the previous day.

Princess Yoko was admitted to a hospital inside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Yoko was in contact with her older sister, Princess Akiko, a few days ago. Akiko, 40, will also be tested as a close contact.

None of the royal’s staff has tested positive.

The Imperial Household Agency said how she contracted the virus is unknown and that she has not attended any events recently with food and drinks. She did attend a memorial ceremony for a late Emperor on 30 January.

Princess Yoko is the daughter of the late Prince Tomohito and his wife, Princess Nobuko. She has one older sister, Princess Akiko. Her father died from cancer in 2012. He was 66.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.