Japan fears spread of UK Covid strain after three new mystery cases
The new cases raise the possibility that the variant is already spreading in the general population
Passengers wear face masks on a train between Kawasaki and Tokyo
Credit: Getty
Three new cases of the fast-spreading UK variant of Covid-19 have been discovered in Japan, with officials admitting they have not been able to determine how they were infected.
The three people live in Shizuoka Prefecture, to the west of Tokyo, and have not travelled to the UK, the ministry of health said on Monday.
Officials also said there was no evidence that any of the three came into contact with any of the 42 people in Japan who have been diagnosed with the UK strain of the virus, raising the possibility that it is already spreading in the general population.