Japanese Empress Emerita Michiko, 89, has been infected with COVID-19, the Imperial Household Agency announced on Monday. Empress Emerita tested positive for COVID-19 in a polymerase chain reaction test on Monday morning while experiencing a cough since early on Sunday, said Buichiro Kuroda, deputy head of the Imperial Household Agency, at a regular news conference.

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Besides the cough and some throat discomfort, she has no other significant symptoms. Due to the mild nature of her illness, she will be recuperating at her Tokyo residence, Kuroda said. This is her first ever infection with COVID-19. Emperor Emeritus Akihito tested negative for COVID-19, according to the announcement.

The royal couple visited Nikko, a city in Tochigi Prefecture, on Tuesday and returned to Tokyo on Friday.