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

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan confirmed a new variant of COVID-19 and an accumulation of infections arose at a Tokyo immigration facility, which presented new challenges as the country tried to overcome a third wave of pandemic.

The new variant has been found in 91 cases in the Kanto area of ​​eastern Japan, and in 2 cases at airports, Cabinet Secretary-General Katsunobu Kato told reporters on Friday. The government is stepping up surveillance of mutant varieties as 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 in the country, can lead to a rapid increase in cases,” Kato said.

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

Japan has reported 151 cases of variants from Britain, South Africa and Brazil, according to the health ministry. The nation has had more than 400,000 cases of COVID-19 with 7,194 deaths.

Meanwhile, 5 officials and 39 foreign detainees at a Tokyo immigration center have tested positive for COVID-19.

The 130 detainees at the facility have been tested for the virus, according to a spokesman for the Tokyo Regional Immigration Office. None of the cases are serious and all infected detainees remain in quarantine.

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

Japan’s detention system for immigration law violators and asylum seekers has been widely criticized for its medical rules, detention of detainees, and emergency response.

“Many detainees are locked up in small enclosed spaces,” said Motoko Yamagishi, the head of a migrant rights group. “It’s unfortunate that such an outbreak occurred in the center.”