Japan's ex-transport minister dies from COVID-19

Japan on Monday reported a first victim of the coronavirus from the Japanese parliament - Yuichiro Hata, who served as transport minister under the leadership of a now-defunct opposition party.

Hata, 53, was pronounced dead at a Tokyo hospital Sunday when he arrived after developing a fever.

His autopsy confirmed that COVID-19 was the direct cause of his death, said Tetsuro Fukuyama, secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

"I'm almost speechless by the sudden loss of my colleague," Fukuyama told a briefing.

Hata initially developed a slight fever on Thursday and was to take a test as a precaution, but his condition suddenly turned worse on Sunday, Fukuyama said.

Hata was the son of former prime minister Tsutomu Hata, who headed the government in 1994.

Three other national lawmakers have contracted the virus and recovered.

(Image Credit: AP)