Proportion of Infections by Japanese Variant Virus Exceeds 50%

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] In Japan, where COVID-19 has entered its fourth wave, the proportion of variant virus infections among total confirmed cases has exceeded 50%.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 28th, the advisory body to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which advises on COVID-19 measures, announced at a meeting the previous day that the nationwide proportion of variant virus infections has surpassed 50%.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's tally, as of the 18th, the positive rate in extraction tests for the 'N501Y' variant virus exceeded 50%.

In particular, in the four Kansai region metropolitan areas of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Nara, the rate was recorded at 80-90%, indicating that most infections are occurring through the variant virus.

In the capital Tokyo, the proportion of variant virus infections was estimated to be about 40%.

In Japan, since the 'N501Y' variant virus, which spread in the UK, was first confirmed at airport quarantine in December last year, the number of infected people nationwide with this virus has been tallied at 9,332 as of the 26th of this month.

This is 1.8 times higher compared to a week ago.

According to analysis by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Japan, the infectivity of N501Y varies by region.

As of the 26th, in Osaka, it was found to be about 1.29 times more infectious compared to the existing virus, 1.53 times in Tokyo, and about 1.68 times in Saitama, part of the metropolitan area.

Regarding the claim that the variant virus spreads more easily among children than the existing virus, the institute stated, "When looking by age group, there is no clear tendency for significant spread among those under 15 years old."

Meanwhile, Japan is on alert as the Indian variant virus, known to have undergone double and triple mutations and to have increased infectivity, has also been introduced.

The number of infected people with the Indian variant virus, first confirmed at airport quarantine on the 20th, has increased to 21 as of the 27th.

In Japan, where a third state of emergency has been declared in four metropolitan areas including Tokyo and Osaka since the 25th, about 5,000 new confirmed cases are reported daily.

As of the previous day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases is 577,338, and deaths total 10,088.