The Deputy Chief of Tokyo Olympics has tested positive for coronavirus, the Metro reports.

According to a statement issued via the Japan Football Association, of which he is President, Kozo Tashima, 62, said: "Today, my test result showed positive for the new coronavirus."

Mr. Tashima also revealed in the statement that he had been on a business trip from 28 February to the first week of March. The trip entailed flying to Belfast for the International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting, and then heading to Amsterdam for the UEFA general meeting, where he gave a presentation on Japan’s 2023 Women’s World Cup bid.

Actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is urging people to stay indoors amid the coronavirus outbreak:

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He added: "In Amsterdam and in Europe in early March, the level of nervousness against the novel coronavirus was not the same as now. Everyone was still doing hugs, handshakes, and [cheek kissing]."

Following his Amsterdam trip, he traveled on to the United States to watch Japan's women's team, and finally returned home on March 8.

The 2020 Summer Olympics are set to take place from Friday 24 July to Sunday 9 August. However, whether the sporting event will go ahead amid the continuing coronavirus outbreak remains to be seen.

Idris Elba confirms he has tested positive for coronavirus:

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The World Health Organization has now declared that the COVID-19 is a pandemic, writing in a statement: "WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."

The statement continued: "Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death."

Deputy Chief of Tokyo Olympics tests positive for coronavirus