The Japanese Ministry of health, Labour and Welfare today confirmed that five travellers who arrived in Japan from the United Kingdom have been diagnosed with the Wuhan pneumonia (novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19) variant of the virus, the first cases of infection with the British variant of the virus to be confirmed in Japan.
The Japanese media reported that Japanese Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenji Tamura held a press conference at 9pm local time tonight, confirming that five travellers who arrived in Japan from the UK on the 18th to 21st of this month were infected with the British “B.1.1.7” variant of Wuhan pneumonia virus strain and are currently under quarantine, one of whom is unwell, while the other four are The other four are asymptomatic.
Among the five infected persons, two entered Japan from Haneda Airport and the other three from Kansai Airport, and all of them tested positive for the variant strain of the virus in the tests taken at the airport. Four of the infected people are male and one is female, all under the age of 70 and all have a history of travel to the UK.
Japan imposed a temporary travel ban on Thursday (24) on business and study trips between Japan and the UK, although Japanese nationals and foreigners settled in Japan are still allowed to enter the country. But from Sunday (27), Japanese nationals who want to return to Japan from the UK must be tested for the Wuhan pneumonia virus within 72 hours before taking a flight and submit a test report when they arrive in Japan; and all foreigners who have been tested for the virus are required to download a cell phone App that tracks cases of infection and leave information about their area of residence when they arrive in Japan.
According to British health officials, the infectiousness of the “B.1.1.7” variant has increased by 70 percent, but there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine is any less effective.
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