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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.
Seoul has introduced an enhanced social distancing campaign as cases surge
Asian countries that were praised for their adept suppression of Covid-19 are now facing growing criticism for falling behind in the race to roll out vaccines.
Countries like South Korea were the poster children of the first wave of coronavirus for skilfully avoiding draconian national lockdowns.
But with cases now on the rise again and the highly transmissible UK variant spreading around the world, authorities are facing urgent questions about their lagging vaccination programmes.
There is anger in South Korea in particular and a sense of resignation in Japan as it emerged that vaccines won t be rolled out until late February at the very earliest - months behind the UK and the West.