Mutated coronavirus also found in Japan

Japan confirmed the country’s first cases of the new mutated variant of the coronavirus that was first detected in the UK before Christmas.

Five people have been quarantined after testing positive after arriving from the UK between December 18 and 21, according to Minister of Health Norihisa Tamura.

The five people arrived in Japan before the country imposed a temporary ban on foreign visitors from Britain on Thursday.

Now only Japanese citizens and foreign nationals with permanent residence in Japan are allowed to enter the country. 

They must spend 14 days in quarantine on arrival.

Japan registered 3,823 new cases of infection on Friday. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the country has registered 215,000 cases of infection and 3,200 corona-related deaths.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today