(Image source from: vdu.lt)

Apart from the COVID-19 virus, countries around the world have been identifying new strains of the virus. Japan has now identified a new COVID-19 strain and found around 91 cases in the Kanto area of eastern Japan. 2 cases of the new virus have been identified at the airport.

This new strain presents new challenges as the county is trying to overcome its third wave of the pandemic.

The government is increasing precautions and surveillance against the mutant varieties as there are chances that they might be more resistant to the vaccines.

Japan has already began its vaccination drive this week. Health officials believe that the virus strain might be more contagious and dangerous in comparison to the other strains and the vaccine might be ineffective against the new strain unlike the previously new E484K mutation.

Apart from the new strain, Japan has already reported 151 cases of variants from Britain, South Africa and Brazil, according to the health ministry. Currently, Japan has had more than 4,00,000 cases of the COVID-19 virus with 7,194 deaths.

When it came to front line workers, 5 staff members and 39 foreign detainees at a Tokyo immigration facility have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The detainees have been kept in quarantine centers from each other, to prevent the spread of the virus.

Japan’s detention system which holds immigration law violators and asylum seekers has been criticized for its bad medical standards, and the way they are monitoring detainees and responses to emergencies.

As Japan is undergoing its third wave of the virus, a new virus identified might be economically and physically a problem for the country.

By Meena Atmakuri