Japan confirms new Covid-19 variant in passengers from Brazil

Japan's health ministry said on Sunday (Jan 10) that four passengers who arrived at Tokyo's Haneda airport from Brazil earlier this month had been found to be infected with a new variant of Covid-19. The new coronavirus variant is different from those first found in Britain or South Africa. - AFP

TOKYO, Jan 10 (Reuters/Xinhua): A new coronavirus variant has been found in four travellers from Brazil, the Japanese Health Ministry said on Sunday.

It is different from the variants first found in Britain or South Africa, Dr Takaji Wakita, head of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, told a health ministry briefing.