送別会参加者３人が感染　不参加の３人も―厚労省

　厚生労働省は８日、老健局老人保健課の職員２３人が深夜まで送別会を開いていた問題で、参加者３人が新型コロナウイルスに感染していたと発表した。送別会に参加しなかった職員らを含め、計６人の感染が確認され、保健所が濃厚接触者や感染経路を調べている。
　同省によると、感染した６人は当時、全員が老健局に所属していた。５人が老人保健課で、うち３人が送別会に参加。１人は別の課に所属していた。６人のうち１人は現在、同省とは別の組織に転出している。
　現在のところ、送別会はクラスター（感染者集団）と認定されていない。田村憲久厚労相は８日の参院厚労委員会で送別会について改めて謝罪し、「保健所の調査に最大限協力する」と話した。（2021/04/08-13:03）

The Japanese health ministry said Thursday three of the 23 ministry workers who came under fire for holding a late-night farewell party last month have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
   On March 24, the 23 workers, who all belonged to the Division of the Health for the Elderly at the ministry's Health and Welfare Bureau for the Elderly at the time, including the then division head, gathered at an "izakaya" Japanese-style pub in Tokyo.
   The party ran from around 7:15 p.m. to 11:50 p.m., even though the Tokyo metropolitan government was requesting restaurants and bars in the Japanese capital back then to close by 9 p.m. as a measure against the coronavirus.
   Over the party, which was held at a time when the ministry was asking people to accept restrictions in their daily lives amid the pandemic, the ministry, on March 30, punished the then division head with a pay cut of 10 pct for one month and moved the official to the health minister's Secretariat.
   Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura said he will voluntarily return his pay as a cabinet minister over the issue.