Princess Kako, the niece of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement made by the Imperial Household Agency on Sunday.
The 28-year-old princess, who is the younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, was forced to cancel her scheduled appearance at an event in Tottori Prefecture, located in western Japan, on the same day she received her COVID-19 diagnosis. The agency further disclosed that she will remain in recuperation at a hotel within the prefecture until Thursday.
The onset of her symptoms began on Saturday night when she complained of discomfort in her throat. Subsequently, she developed a fever on Sunday morning, prompting her to undergo a COVID-19 test, which returned a positive result.
Princess Kako had arrived in Tottori on Saturday with the intention of participating in a sign language performance event organized by high school students the following day. Notably, during her visit to the prefecture, she did not wear a face mask when interacting with the high school students, as well as with some elementary school students. This has raised concerns about potential exposure to the virus during her public engagements.
