Japan confirmed on Friday an infection cluster at an immigration facility in Tokyo as well as the spread of a new COVID-19 variant in the nation, outlining new challenges as it tries to overcome a third wave of the pandemic.
The new variant has been identified in 91 cases in the Kanto area of eastern Japan and in 2 cases at airports, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters on Friday.
The government is raising the level of vigilance against mutant varieties as they may be more resistant to vaccines, which Japan started to dispense this week.