Japan confirms first case of lambda variant infection

The lambda variant of the new coronavirus, first identified in Peru, was discovered in Japan for the first time, health ministry officials said on Friday.

The variant was detected in a woman in her 30s at Haneda airport who arrived from Peru on July 20, according to the ministry.

She tested positive for the coronavirus during an airport quarantine check, without any symptoms.

The virus was confirmed to be of the lambda variant in an analysis by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

According to the institute, the lambda variant was first detected in Peru in August last year and has spread to South America.

Compared to the conventional strain, the variant may be more infectious and have stronger resistance to vaccines, but its details are not known, the institute said.

Meanwhile, the delta variant is challenging the part of the world that has been most successful in mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19, the Asian countries that have suffocated it have locked themselves again when the virus returns.

Just 12 months ago, the rapid containment of COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific region made it the envy of the world as the virus ravaged the United States and Europe. Now, from Seoul to Sydney, Bangkok to Beijing, authorities are reimposing restrictions that are holding back growth, as low vaccination rates in many of these places make their populations vulnerable.

Thailand braces for the emergence of new COVID-19 clusters as the highly infectious delta variant tears apart more regions outside of its current epicenter of the Bangkok metropolitan area.

About 60% of new coronavirus cases in Thailand in recent days have been reported outside the capital region, with low vaccination rates and looser movement restrictions, official data shows. The country’s rate of new infections per million population, at nearly 300, now eclipses that of Indonesia or India, with a new daily record of 21,379 cases reported on Friday.

Unlike the United States where fringe anti-vaccine groups have fueled resistance to COVID-19 injections, Hong Kong faces a different challenge. Most of the city’s seniors are reluctant to get vaccinated, and some point to an unlikely source of reluctance: their doctors.

The number of patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 cases in Japan rose to 1,020 Thursday, the highest since June, according to data from the country’s health ministry.

Singapore has increased the number of hotels that can be used to quarantine people as the city-state seeks to control the spread of the virus amid the recent spate of infections.

More than 90 hotels are currently in use to accommodate people entering the country and those who have been in contact with cases of COVID-19, an increase from more than 70 in May this year, a spokesperson said. from the Ministry of National Development in a press release. response to questions from Bloomberg News. Singapore’s daily viral infections in the community hit an all-time high at the end of last month and cases topped 100 for two weeks before declining recently.

The Malaysian government is focused on ramping up its vaccination campaign after daily cases surpassed the record 20,000 for the first time on Thursday. The surge in new COVID-19 infections is due to the rapidly spreading delta variant, which has swept the world.

The number of daily cases of delta epidemics in Sydney hit another record high, with 291 new infections detected and authorities warning the situation in Australia’s largest city could worsen.

The city has failed to lower the curve for new infections despite being locked out for nearly six weeks. The new cases exceed the previous record number of new infections of 262 on Thursday; another person died.

Thailand reported 21,379 new COVID-19 infections, a daily record that brought the country’s total to 700,000 as the recent tightening of containment measures failed to quell a raging epidemic. The Southeast Asian nation also reported a single-day record of 191 deaths, official data showed on Friday.

Locally transmitted virus cases in Singapore remained below 100 for a third day, ahead of a planned government review of strict social distancing restrictions that have banned on-site meals and limited gatherings to just two people.

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday that the government would provide an update on the COVID-19 situation soon. Singaporean authorities had planned in early August to review measures that were reimposed after an outbreak in a fishing port in mid-July spread to other locations, including karaoke bars and hospitals within a casino and worker dorms.

Singapore is also easing regulations on visitors to Taiwan as conditions improve, the health ministry said in a separate statement. Those who have spent the last 21 days in Taiwan can enter without a 14-day stay notice requirement provided they are negative upon arrival.

The Philippines included more cities and provinces under lockdown, adding to the capital region which reverted to the most stringent form of movement restrictions on Friday. Laguna, Iloilo City and Cagayan De Oro have been placed in enhanced community quarantine, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said Thursday evening.

The Philippines has tightened borders and set up checkpoints between cities in the capital region. Only authorized workers can cross, and those who buy essential goods can only do so in their towns, the country’s police chief said. The government has told the public not to believe social media posts claiming that the unvaccinated will not receive help during the lockdown as crowds have formed at vaccination sites risking the spread of the virus.

South Korea will extend current Level 4 social distancing rules in the Greater Seoul area and Level 3 rules in other areas for another two weeks, Yonhap News reported.

Under the highest level of social distancing in the Greater Seoul area, private gatherings of three or more people are prohibited after 6 p.m.