Japan police say COVID found in 443 unnatural at-home deaths over 18 months

TOKYO -- Japan's National Police Agency revealed on July 5 that among deaths at home nationwide that police handled as suspicious or unnatural between January 2020 and June 2021, 443 deceased individuals had tested positive for the coronavirus.

The report was disclosed at a meeting of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Japanese police classify those who die outside health care facilities as deaths from unnatural or other causes.

According to the report, the remains of a total of 536 people who died outside medical facilities -- such as at or outside the home -- had tested positive for the coronavirus during the 18-month period. Of these, excluding those at home, 30 people died at residential care facilities, 16 at accommodations such as hotels, and 47 died suddenly while out.

(Japanese original by Kenta Miyahara, Political News Department)