Matsue City Hall is seen in this file photo taken in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, on March 1, 2019. (Mainichi/Aoi Maeda)

MATSUE -- A 66-year-old resident of this western Japan city was arrested April 6 on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business after reportedly threatening to "scatter" the novel coronavirus, police said.

The unemployed woman is specifically accused of hindering the normal work process at Matsue City Hall. She allegedly told a worker at the hall at around 10:30 a.m. on April 6, "I went to Tokyo. I came here to scatter the coronavirus," and, "If I take off my mask and talk, that's all it takes (to spread the virus)."

According to the Shimane Prefectural Police, the woman hadn't actually visited Tokyo, and has shown no symptoms indicating she is infected.

(Japanese original by Haruno Kosaka, Matsue Bureau)