At least 115 people, including performers and audience members from 11 prefectures, who attended the theater that became known as a cluster in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Wednesday.
Infections have also been confirmed in coworkers and family members of those infected at Shinjuku Theater Moliere. It has become clear that the theater did not thoroughly implement infection prevention measures, and an industry group plans to review infection prevention guidelines.
The outbreak occurred between June 30 and July 5, when the theater held the event, "The★Jinro -- Ikemen Jinro Aidoruha Dareda!!" (Who is the handsome werewolf idol?!!). Each performance went for about two hours, and there were two shows per day. About 15 performers sang and danced, and played a psychological game called "Jinro." The 130-square-meter theater offered about 90 seats for each show, and some of the shows were full.
Among the infected performers and audience members announced by local governments, The Yomiuri Shimbun discovered that the 115 people included 59 from Tokyo, 19 from Kanagawa, 15 from Saitama and seven each from Chiba and Aichi.
Most of them were women between the age of 10 and 69. Apart from the 115, at least 10 colleagues and family members are suspected of being infected by those who attended the event.
In Gunma Prefecture, a female nursery minder in her 20s, who visited the theater on July 5, was found to be infected with the virus. The nursery school where she works has been closed since July 14, and about 190 children and minders have been tested. Two other female minders at the school have also tested positive.
In Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, a female nurse in her 40s working at a municipal hospital was infected. She is in charge of the neonatal intensive care unit, and 11 newborns were tested as close contacts. In Shimane Prefecture, on July 14, a female student from the University of Shimane was also confirmed infected. The campus was closed from that day.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
