Limited capacity of SARS-CoV-2 variants testing in Japan: A secondary analysis using publicly available data

Abstract

As of early 2021, the widespread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the emergence of more virulent genetic variants globally, which is more infectious with a high mortality rate [1,2]. Hence, a rapid elucidation of the details of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants, their infectious capacity, and regional surveys to assess the incidence are crucial to controlling the spread of the virus. In Japan, a country early affected in the pandemic [3,4], a variant of concern 202012/01 was first identified in the airport quarantine station on December 25, 2020. Concerned about the further spread of SARS-CoV-2, the Japanese government declared a second state of emergency from January 8 to March 21, 2021.