Confusion As Woman Tests Positive For Coronavirus After 'Recovery'

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It has been reported that a woman in Japan who contracted the new coronavirus and was released from hospital after recovering has tested positive again.

Officials made this revelation on Thursday.

According to the Agence France Presse, AFP, a local official in Osaka said the case is the first time a patient apparently cleared of the virus has subsequently tested positive for it.

The woman in her 40s was first confirmed as infected with the coronavirus on January 29.

She was working as a guide on a tour bus with tourists from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, in January. The driver of the bus was also diagnosed with the virus.

After being discharged from hospital she tested negative for the virus on February 6, although she still had a cough at the time.

She had no symptoms a week later but returned to the doctor on February 21 complaining of a sore throat and chest pains.

On Wednesday, she tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time, officials said.

At least 186 people in Japan have so far contracted the virus, with four deaths in the country linked to the outbreak.