TOKYO (CU)_The Health Ministry of Japan has discovered a new variant of the COVID-19 virus, different from the ones discovered in the UK and South Africa.
The variant was found during tests conducted at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Saturday (Jan 2), in 4 passengers who arrived from Brazil. The group made up of two teens, a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s.
It is reported that the man did not have any symptoms upon arrival, but was later hospitalised after experiencing a breathing difficulty. The woman, on the other hand, suffered from a headache, while of the two teens, one had fever and the other had no symptoms, according to the country’s Health authorities.
Japan’s Health Ministry has reported the new strain to the World Health Organisation, and the two institutes are working together with other medical experts to analyse this new version of the virus.
The available data on the new strain only specifies its genetic make-up and has not yet determined how infectious it is, or whether the vaccines which are being rolled out across the world will be effective in combatting it.
Meanwhile, on Friday, a state of emergency was declared in the capital city of Tokyo, which required restaurants and bars to close at 8pm. However, some have complained that these restrictions are insufficient since train stations and eateries are still packed with large crowds even at night.
Japan has reported nearly 289,000 COVID-19 infections and 4,000 virus-induced deaths so far.
