Elderly Woman Tests Positive for COVID-19 in Kumamoto Earthquake Evacuation Shelter

In a distressing turn of events, an elderly woman in Kumamoto, Japan, has tested positive for COVID-19 following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28. The 70-year-old woman was among those displaced by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake and was staying in a designated evacuation shelter.

She began to feel unwell and sought medical treatment, which led to her diagnosis of COVID-19. Local authorities in Uki City confirmed the case on August 2. The woman has since been transferred to a "welfare shelter," a specialized facility providing enhanced care for individuals with specific needs.

Her daughter and grandson, who are considered close contacts, have also been relocated to the same welfare shelter. The city is taking measures to address the situation, including dispatching medical personnel to various shelters to educate residents on the importance of hand hygiene, especially given the ongoing water supply disruptions caused by the earthquake.