Japan finds new COVID virus strain, distinct from UK and Africa types

Variant detected in four passengers who arrived in Tokyo from Brazil

20200110 Haneda Airport coronavirus variant

An arrival gate at Tokyo's Haneda Airport: A new coronavirus variant has been found in four passengers who flew into the airport. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writers

January 10, 2021 21:33 JST

Updated on January 11, 2021 01:58 JST

TOKYO -- A new variant of the virus behind COVID-19 has been detected in Japan, the country's Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

It was found in four people -- male and female, ranging from their teens to their 40s -- who arrived from Brazil. While there are similarities to strains first reported in the U.K. and South Africa, this particular type does not appear to have been spotted before.