Background: COVID-19 has spread worldwide since its emergence in 2019. In contrast to many other countries with epidemics, Japan differed in that it avoided lockdowns and instead asked people for self-control. A travel campaign was conducted with a sizable budget, but the number of PCR tests was severely limited. These choices may have influenced the course of the epidemic.
Methods: The increase or decrease in the classes of SARS-CoV-2 variants was estimated by analyzing the published sequences with an objective multivariate analysis. This approach observes the samples in multiple directions, digesting complex differences into simpler forms. The results were compared over time with the number of confirmed cases, PCR tests, and overseas visitors. The kinetics of infection were analyzed using the logarithmic growth rate.
Results: The declared states of emergency failed to alter the movement of the growth rate. Three epidemic peaks were caused by domestically mutated variants. In other countries, there are few cases in which multiple variants have peaked. However, due to the relaxation of immigration restrictions, several infective variants have been imported from abroad and are currently competing for expansion, creating the fourth peak. By April 2021, these foreign variants exceeded 80%. The chaotic situation in Japan will continue for some time, in part because no effort has been made to identify asymptomatic carriers, and details of the vaccination program are undecided.
Keywords: Cross-border spreading; Go To travel campaign; Governmental responses; Kinetics; Lockdown; Multiple variants; PCR test; SARS-CoV-2; State of emergency; Visitors from overseas.
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