Japan finds new COVID-19 strain, while immigration center reports infections

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has confirmed a new version of COVID-19 and a group of infections has appeared in an immigration unit in Tokyo, presenting new challenges as the country tries to overcome a third wave of pandemic.

The new variant was found in 91 cases in the Kanto area of ​​eastern Japan and in 2 cases at airports, the chief secretary of the Katsunobu Kato cabinet told reporters on Friday. The government is lifting surveillance against mutant varieties because they may be more resistant to vaccines, which Japan began distributing this week.

“It can be more contagious than conventional strains, and if it continues to spread domestically, it could lead to a rapid increase in cases,” Kato said.

The new strain appears to have appeared abroad, but is different from other types that have been found sporadically in Japan, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. It has the E484K mutation on the virus’s top protein that has been found in other variants, which can undermine the effectiveness of vaccines.

Japan reported 151 cases of variants in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, according to the health ministry. The nation had over 400,000 cases of COVID-19 with 7,194 deaths.

Meanwhile, 5 employees and 39 foreign detainees at an immigration unit in Tokyo gave positive results for COVID-19.

All 130 detainees at the unit were tested for the virus, according to a spokesman for the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau. None of the cases is serious and all infected detainees remain quarantined.

The representative declined to comment on the nationality of the infected detainees, citing privacy reasons.

The Japanese detention system for immigration violators and asylum seekers has been widely criticized for its medical standards, monitoring detainees and responding to emergencies.

“Many detainees are locked in a small, closed space,” said Motoko Yamagishi, head of a migrant rights group. “It is unfortunate that such an outbreak occurred in the center.”