It has been pointed out that mutant viruses of the new coronavirus may become more infectious and the virus may be more likely to escape from antibody attacks.
With the spread of infection in Japan, countermeasures are becoming important.
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to strengthen border measures
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to require new arrivals from 13 countries and regions to wait at accommodation facilities in order to strengthen border measures for mutant viruses.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare asks people entering from countries and regions where the mutant virus is endemic to wait at accommodations secured by the quarantine station even after entering the country, and test again 3 days later, and even if it is negative, it will be at home for 14 days. I'm asking you to wait at.
Current target
▽ United Kingdom and ▽ South Africa ▽ Israel ▽ Ireland ▽ State of Amazonas in Brazil
Newly added
▽ UAE = United Arab Emirates ▽ Italy ▽ Austria ▽ Netherlands ▽ Switzerland ▽ Sweden ▽ Slovakia ▽ Denmark ▽ Germany ▽ Nigeria ▽ France ▽ Belgium ▽
Measures for
Brazil (and regions other than Amazonas)
will be strengthened from midnight on the 5th, and will be available to those who have stayed in these countries or regions within 14 days before entering the country.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has a policy of strengthening border measures in the same way when a mutant virus epidemic is confirmed in other countries and regions.
15% of mutant strains in Kobe
The results of a survey on mutant viruses have been announced.
Kobe City announced that the British mutant virus was found in about 15% of the people who examined the specimens in the city for a week starting from the 12th of last month.
Kobe City has been infected with the mutant virus that has spread in the United Kingdom one after another in Hyogo Prefecture, so it was confirmed that the city was infected with the new coronavirus from January 1st to 18th last month. About 1000 of the people who were infected were examined at the city's Environmental Health Research Institute.
As a result, no British mutant virus was found in 677 people who were confirmed to be infected between January 1st and January 28th.
However, the mutant virus was found in 8 out of 173 infected people during the week starting January 29, or 4.6%.
In addition, the British mutant virus was confirmed and infected in 11 out of 105 infected people in the week from 5th last month, and in 12 out of 79 in the week from 12th last month. It was found that the proportion of virus tends to increase.
In addition, a mutant virus of unknown origin was found in five specimens.
Mayor Hisamoto of Kobe City cautioned that "the state of emergency has been lifted, but the proportion of mutant viruses is increasing. Please take action changes based on the facts." He showed the idea of strengthening.
* Round up to the second decimal place
In some countries, the infection has spread to elementary and junior high and high school students overseas, and some countries have decided to switch all school lessons online in areas where the infection is most severe.
In Italy, the first confirmed mutant virus infection in the United Kingdom has spread, accounting for more than 50% of new infections as of mid-last month.
At a press conference held on the 2nd, health officials revealed that the infection of the mutant virus has spread even between the ages of 6 and 19 who are elementary school students and junior high and high school students, and Health Minister Speranza said that the infection situation is the most serious "Red" Announced that all school classes will be switched online in areas designated as "zones".
In the "Red Zone", going out is restricted and retail stores and restaurants are prohibited in principle, but elementary and junior high schools have been conducting face-to-face classes.
In Europe, the neighboring country of France is also becoming more vigilant, such as tightening regulations in some areas due to the spread of mutant virus infection.
The control of borders with neighboring countries is also becoming stricter.
In Germany, government research institutes that deal with infectious diseases have designated areas where mutant virus infection is widespread as high-risk areas.
In response to this, the government has taken measures to restrict entry from the designated area, and since the neighboring Czech Republic and the western Tyrol state of Austria were designated last month, entry from both areas will be German nationality. Limited to the purpose of transporting people and cargo.
Logistics was affected after the restrictions in the Czech Republic, and at one point near the border, heavy trucks heading for Germany formed long lines for about 10 kilometers.
Some countries regulate entry from Germany
On the other hand, some neighboring countries restrict entry from Germany, and in neighboring Denmark, due to the spread of the mutant virus in the northern city of Germany near the border, Flensburg, measures have been taken to tighten immigration control. I did.
In Flensburg, infection with the mutant virus has been confirmed since entering this year, and it now accounts for more than half of the newly infected people.
In Flensburg, seven people died of the new coronavirus in the last year, but in the two months to the end of last month, 26 people died, and Mayor Zimone Lange said, "The mutated virus. I didn't expect the spread to go so fast. The surge in deaths must be taken very seriously, "he said.
"If we do not reduce the number of newly infected people, we will not be able to meet with a perfect system."
Regarding the domestic situation of mutant viruses, Professor Atsuro Hamada of Tokyo Medical University, who is familiar with infectious diseases, said, "In Kobe City, about 15% of the viruses examined in a week were mutant strains. It is prevalent in the United Kingdom and the United States. The focus has been replaced by mutant strains from conventional strains, and it is highly likely that this will happen in Japan as well. In order to prevent the full-scale epidemic of mutant strains, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring system in a wide range of Japan. " Did.
Regarding the state of emergency issued in 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures, "In the UK, we managed to survive the outbreak of mutant strains by blocking the city quite strongly. In Japan, the level of infection in the third wave If you do not lower it as much as possible, it will soon become the 4th wave due to the epidemic of mutant strains. Unless the number of newly infected people in Tokyo can be suppressed to about 100 per day, the mutant strains will be released with a perfect system. I think I haven't greeted you. "
On top of that, Professor Hamada said, "The new coronavirus was not so widespread in Japan at the beginning of March last year, but many people go out to the city at night for cherry blossom viewing and farewell parties, and the first wave starts in late March. If you take the same actions as last year, the infection will spread again and the outbreak of mutant strains will occur. In order to survive this situation, you should be more careful and take measures such as refraining from events such as farewell parties and cherry blossom viewing. I want you to come. "