Outfielder Kalian Sams (R #35) of the Netherlands runs past Japan's pitcher Shintaro Fujinami (L) following his two run homer in the fifth inning during the international friendly baseball match between Japan and the Netherlands at the Tokyo Dome on Nov 12, 2016. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

TOKYO - Three Japanese professional baseball players have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Japanese broadcaster NHK said that one of the players is Shintaro Fujinami of the Hanshin Tigers, who was confirmed to have been infected on Thursday.

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The report added that Fujinami had lost sense of taste and smell for several days, and that he has not developed any other symptoms, such as a fever, cough, or fatigue

The report added that Fujinami had lost sense of taste and smell for several days, and that he has not developed any other symptoms, such as a fever, cough, or fatigue.

The two other players who tested positive had dined with Fujinami on March 14, and reportedly complained of being unable to taste food properly.

The club has told players and staff to stay home for at least one week starting Thursday.

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Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike has said that Tokyo is "now at a critical juncture" and appealed to residents to grasp the gravity of the situation and work from home as much as possible.

She also called on people to refrain from going out in the evening and this weekend, and suggested a lockdown was possible if the virus spreads further.