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

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has confirmed a new variant of COVID-19 and a cluster of infection has emerged at a Tokyo immigration center, presenting new challenges as the country tries to weather a third wave of the pandemic .

The new variant was found in 91 cases in the Kanto region of eastern Japan and in 2 cases at airports, Chief Cabinet Secretary 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 may be more contagious than conventional strains, and if it continues to spread nationally, it could lead to a rapid increase in cases,” Kato said.

The new strain appears to be native to overseas 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 spike protein of the virus that has been found in other variants, which can affect the effectiveness of vaccines.

Japan has reported 151 cases of variants from Britain, South Africa and Brazil, according to the Department of Health. The country has recorded more than 400,000 cases of COVID-19 with 7,194 deaths.

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

All 130 inmates at the facility have been tested for the virus, according to a spokesperson for the Tokyo regional immigration office. None of the cases are serious and all infected inmates remain quarantined from the others.

The representative declined to comment on the nationality of the infected detainees, citing confidentiality concerns.

Japan’s detention system for immigration law violators and asylum seekers has been widely criticized for its medical standards, monitoring of detainees and responding to emergencies.

“Many detainees are locked in small enclosed spaces,” said Motoko Yamagishi, the leader of a migrant rights group. “It is unfortunate that such an epidemic has occurred in the center.”