The opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympic Games takes place at the Japan National Stadium on July 23, 2021, the same day that the first case of the lambda coronavirus variant was confirmed in Japan. (Mainichi/Toshiki Miyama)

       TOKYO -- There has been growing criticism surrounding the Japanese government's delayed announcement of the country's first case of the lambda coronavirus variant, which took place two weeks after the infection was confirmed. As the Tokyo Olympics were ongoing during this time, there's speculation that the late disclosure was a cover-up to avoid interfering with the Games.

       According to sources including the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), a woman in her 30s who arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on July 20 was found infected with the coronavirus during quarantine inspections. The woman had stayed in Peru, and upon further investigation by the NIID, on July 23, the infection was confirmed as the country's first case of the lambda strain of the virus. The NIID reported this to the health ministry on the same day. The information was also relayed to international infectious disease institutions on July 26, but had not been disclosed to the public.

       On Aug. 6, U.S. news website The Daily Beast reported on Japan's first case of the lambda variant, and cited an NIID researcher as saying they planned to make the announcement after the Tokyo Olympics. Japan's health ministry admitted to the detection of the variant before the press that same day. Furthermore, on Aug. 13, after the Tokyo Olympic Games had ended, Kyodo News reported that the woman was an Olympic-affiliated individual.

       Criticism erupted on Twitter, with Tokyo Institute of Technology professor Takeshi Nakajima saying, "I suppose they thought that if it were disclosed during the Olympics, calls for the cancellation would grow louder," while Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii commented, "It can't be helped if people claim it's a cover-up."

       Why was the disclosure of the country's first lambda case put off for so long? One reason is the classification of coronavirus variants.

       Relevant institutions evaluate the risks of coronavirus variants, which are classified as "variants of interest" (VOI) or "variants of concern" (VOC). The first category VOI comprises strains that have been detected in numerous countries and have the possibility of impacting vaccine efficacy, while variants with higher risks due to possible property changes, including becoming more infectious or having reduced vaccine effectiveness, are categorized as VOC.

       The National Institute of Infectious Diseases building is seen in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, in this May 11, 2019 file photo. (Mainichi/Kazuo Motohashi)

       The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the alpha variant, which has also spread in Japan, the currently dominant delta variant, and two other mutant strains as VOC, and another four strains including lambda as VOI.

       According to the health ministry, of COVID-19 cases confirmed in airport inspections, they only release the variant when it is among the four classified as VOC. As the lambda variant is not a VOC, the ministry said the case did not meet the standard for disclosure. In response to an inquiry, the health ministry's quarantine station operations control office commented, "Regarding the detection of the first case (of the lambda variant), we disclosed it as a response to inquiries by the press. We followed disclosure standards and had no intention to cover it up."

       International University of Health and Welfare professor Tetsuya Matsumoto, who is well versed in infectious diseases, pointed out: "Under the WHO classification system, the lambda variant is not a VOC but is included in the VOI category. The first such case has been discovered, so it goes without saying that the government should have disclosed this immediately. This is because in order to thoroughly enforce border control measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, an inspection system against new strains must be constructed rapidly. It cannot be helped if people assume that the government refrained from disclosure for fear of criticism as the infected person was associated with the Olympics. It is necessary to clarify what kind of events preceded the initial decision to withhold disclosure."

       International University of Health and Welfare professor Tetsuya Matsumoto is seen in this image provided by the university.

       To begin with, what kind of characteristics does the lambda variant have?

       According to Matsumoto, research has shown that like the alpha and delta variants, the lambda variant is more transmissible than the conventional strain. In Chile, the lambda variant has been spreading in spite of high vaccination rates. Furthermore, when viewing death rates reported overseas, there is apparently the possibility that infections with the lambda variant are more likely to develop into serious cases compared to the conventional strain.

       "It is unknown whether the lambda variant will spread in Japan moving forward. However, given that the strain is highly resistant to vaccines, it is possible for it to spread even after inoculations have reached a majority of the public. When it comes to these mutant strains, the very notion that we'll be OK as long as we obtain herd immunity following 60 to 70% vaccination rates becomes unreliable," said Matsumoto.

       So how can we protect ourselves against the virus variant?

       Matsumoto pointed out, "The importance of getting inoculated remains unchanged, but we are in a state where receiving a shot doesn't necessarily ensure our safety. In the case of variant strains with stronger transmissibility, infections stemming from the extremely tiny aerosol particles that float in the air have been increasing. There are cases where people inhale these particles and contract the virus, even if they're wearing masks."

       He said necessary countermeasures against the virus included making sure to ventilate spaces even more than now and avoiding going to places where many people gather. He added, "You should also avoid gathering with friends and relatives during the summer break."

       (Japanese original by Asako Kamihigashi, Digital News Center)

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