The Japanese expert, who was found dead at a hotel in Ha Noi, was infected with new COVID-19 variant 20C, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said Wednesday.

Viet Nam detects the fifth Covid-19 variant. 

This is the first time the aforesaid strain has been detected in Viet Nam, marking the fifth COVID-19 variant uncovered in the nation so far. 

This new variant is less transmissible than the others but its degree of virulence is unknown, Long added. 

The deceased Japanese man, aged 54, entered Viet Nam on January 17 for a business mission at Mitsui Viet Nam and was placed in quarantine upon his arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.   

He twice tested negative for the virus on January 17 and 31 during his stay at a concentrated quarantine facility in the city's Tan Binh district.  

On February 1, the man flew to Ha Noi capital and stayed at a hotel in Tay Ho District from February 1-13 during which he travelled back and forth between the hotel and his company.  

He was found dead in his hotel on February 13, and subsequent tests later proved he had carried the virus.

Previously, Viet Nam reported four COVID-19 variants namely:

+D614G variant from Europe (found in Da Nang City)

+UK COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 (detected in Hai Duong)

+B. 1.351 first seen in South Africa (uncovered on patient 1422 returning from South Africa on December 19, 2020).

+A.23.1 from Rwanda, Africa (identified in some COVID-19 patients who work for Viet Nam Airport Ground Services Co., Ltd (VIAGS) located in Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City).