TOKYO: A new variant of the novel coronavirus that is spreading in South Africa was found in Japan for the first time on Monday, according to the health ministry.

The coronavirus variant was detected in samples from a woman in her 30s who arrived at Narita International Airport near Tokyo via the Qatari capital of Doha on Dec. 19, after staying in South Africa.

After she tested positive for the coronavirus at the airport while showing no symptoms, her samples were closely examined at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. The variant may be more infectious than the original virus, but details are not known, the ministry said.

Also through airport testing, six people who have recently stayed in Britain were newly found positive for another coronavirus variant, which is spreading in Britain.

The six, in the age group of 10-49, arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport between Dec. 1 and last Thursday. Of them, a man in his 40s who arrived on Thursday has symptoms including a fever, while the other five are free of symptoms.

No one had close contact with the woman carrying the South African variant or the six people with the British variant, the ministry said.

Eight people including a male pilot had been earlier confirmed to have the British variant, which is believed to be 70 percent more transmissible than the original virus. According to the ministry, those who had close contact with them have been identified and are staying at their homes.

Amid the global spread of coronavirus variants, the Japanese government has implemented a ban on arrivals by foreigners from around the world, including South Africa and Britain.

Japanese nationals returning from the two countries are required to submit certificates of negative test results, stay in accommodation facilities for three days after arrival, and then take fresh coronavirus tests. Even if they test negative, they are asked to quarantine themselves, including at their homes, for 14 days.

JIJI Press