Japan announced on Saturday that it will temporarily suspend non-resident foreigners from entering the country from December 28 after discovering its first case of a new variant of the coronavirus that may be more transmissible, Reuters reports .
Why it’s important: The new variant, which is found in passengers arriving from Britain on Friday, has caused concern in the country as Tokyo struggles with an increase in cases heading into New Year’s holidays.
By numbers: Tokyo reported 949 cases on Saturday, a record for the capital, according to Reuters.
- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday urged people to stay home and avoid social gatherings.
Note: So far there is no evidence that the new variant is more deadly, only that it seems more transmissible. There is also no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against the new variant.
The big picture: At least 31 countries have banned travel from the UK after the British government warned that a new variant of the coronavirus could be up to 70% more transmissible.
- The new variant has been detected in Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands, according to the BBC.
In depth: BioNTech says it could produce vaccine for the COVID-19 variant in 6 weeks if needed