Two coronavirus cases at World Expo Japan Pavilion

emirates7 - Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry says two workers at the country's World Expo pavilion now underway in the United Arab Emirates have tested positive for the coronavirus. The pavilion was closed on Saturday.

The ministry said that a pavilion attendant tested positive after complaining of ill health. It said another attendant who worked nearby also tested positive. The two are Japanese nationals.

The ministry said this is the first time that Japan Pavilion staffers at Expo 2020 Dubai have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. It said all of the roughly 170 workers at the pavilion were tested.

The ministry said officials will decide whether to reopen the pavilion after considering test results and other factors.

The daily number of coronavirus infections reported in the UAE has surged more than 10 times since the first case of the Omicron variant was confirmed there earlier this month.

Ten workers at a sushi restaurant adjacent to the Japan Pavilion were found infected with the virus on December 20.