Light shone on ordeal of virus patients in Japan

Having recovered from month-long COVID-19, Kiyoshi Kurihara vividly recalled the bitter experience in the fight for his life.

"At first, I just had a heavy head and pains in my back, but the situation quickly turned serious overnight when I woke up in the morning," Kurihara said. "I got a temperature of over 38 C, and because I tested positive myself, no hospital wants to accept me."

With a serious headache, Kurihara was on the phone for over two hours straight just to find a hospital that would check his overall condition.