Tag - covid-19-variants

 
 

COVID 19 VARIANTS

The health ministry is calling for people to take infection control measures thoroughly as cases of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases are rising in Japan.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jul 24, 2024
Japan battling 11th COVID wave, data shows, as KP.3 variant evades immunity
New infections have been increasing for 10 consecutive weeks amid the rise of the highly transmissible new coronavirus variant.
Medical workers prepare to enter an evacuation center in Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture, where COVID-19 infections were confirmed on Jan. 6.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jan 29, 2024
Japan likely experiencing 10th wave of COVID-19
The spread is being driven by the highly contagious new JN.1 variant.
An epidemic-prevention worker in a protective suit stands guard at the gate of a residential compound in Beijing in November last year.
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 14, 2023
Scientists see lost opportunities for long COVID research in China
While China's unique experiences could provide valuable insights, there is little to suggest that the country is interested in conducting such studies.
Tokyo's Ginza district. On Thursday, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said one person tested positive for BA.2.86 on Aug. 24.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Sep 8, 2023
New COVID variant detected in Japan amid wave of infections
While there’s no evidence so far that it causes more severe illness, experts say it may be more capable of infecting people who have been infected before.
People wait in line to take a COVID-19 oral swab test on a sidewalk in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City on June 20.
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 25, 2023
Highly mutated COVID variant BA.2.86 found in two more countries
Omicron offshoot BA.2.86 carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the dominant variant through most of 2023.
A COVID-19 test swab is placed into a tube in Hilversum, the Netherlands, in November 2020.
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 22, 2023
Two years after catching COVID, patients still risk getting sick
People who were not hospitalized for acute COVID-19 still had a higher risk than uninfected people of developing long COVID-related disorders.
It is still unclear whether BA.2.86 will be able to out-compete other strains of the virus that causes COVID-19, or have any advantage in escaping immune responses from prior infection or vaccination.
WORLD / Science & Health / EXPLAINER
Aug 21, 2023
What you need to know about BA.2.86, the new COVID variant
Scientists are keeping an eye on the new lineage because it has 36 mutations that distinguish it from the currently dominant XBB.1.5 variant.
Tourists walk along the road that leads to Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto on Friday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Aug 14, 2023
New coronavirus variant EG.5 gains momentum in Japan
The prevalence of EG.5, called Eris by health experts, nearly doubled in July to account for 22% of cases in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jun 19, 2023
Japan to roll out COVID-19 booster targeting XBB subvariant in the fall
A vaccine subcommittee under the health ministry is aiming to prepare for another spike in infections possibly arriving in the winter.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 6, 2023
Excess deaths doubled in Japan in 2022 — COVID-19 may be to blame
Despite being less pathogenic than previous coronavirus variants, omicron hit Japan's elderly population particularly hard last year.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 17, 2023
Omicron still infected those with early COVID cases, study finds
The study suggests those infected with pre-omicron variants are well protected against older variants but should still take steps to prevent reinfection.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 15, 2023
Omicron variant, thought to be milder, can increase risk for diabetes
Rates of newly diagnosed diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol were higher in the 90 days after COVID-19 infection than the period before, according to a study.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 26, 2023
Updated COVID-19 vaccines prevented illness from latest variants, CDC says
The analysis found that the updated vaccine helped prevent illness in people who had previously received two to four doses of the original COVID-19 vaccine.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 16, 2023
Japan marks three years since first COVID case
With experts saying that the mortality rate for omicron is lower than that of seasonal influenza, the government is currently discussing reviewing the classification of COVID-19.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 14, 2023
China finds no new COVID-19 variants but mutation threat lingers
The news is bolstering hopes that a new variant after omicron — one that could set the world back in its attempts to move past the pandemic — is less likely to emerge.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 11, 2023
Don't write off the retooled COVID-19 boosters
Two new studies claim the bivalent omicron shot is no better than the original vaccine. But there are important caveats.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 11, 2023
WHO urges travelers to wear masks as new COVID variant spreads
XBB.1.5 — the most transmissible omicron subvariant detected so far — accounted for 27.6% of COVID-19 cases in the United States for the week that ended Jan. 7.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 8, 2023
Health experts warily eye XBB.1.5, the latest omicron subvariant
The young version of the coronavirus could worsen what is already shaping up to be a rough COVID winter as people gather indoors and don't receive boosters that can ward off severe disease.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 7, 2023
China on alert for new COVID-19 variant as borders reopen
A selected group of cities and harbors have been asked to send test samples of infected travelers for genome sequencing.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 6, 2023
No, vaccines aren’t making new COVID-19 variants worse
The omicron sequel XBB.1.5 is driving a new wave of COVID-19 infections — and misinformation.

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat