Japan to bar entry of foreigners in response to Omicron variant

Japan will bar newly getting into foreigners corresponding to enterprise vacationers from getting into the nation beginning Tuesday, in response to the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Japanese residents and international residents of Japan who’re coming back from journeys overseas will nonetheless be allowed to enter the nation, the federal government mentioned Monday.

These coming back from 9 international locations in southern Africa and 14 different international locations and areas the place Omicron instances have been confirmed will face a strict quarantine upon arrival, it mentioned.

“That is an emergency, safety measure with a view to keep away from the worst scenario,” mentioned Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He mentioned the steps have been non permanent till the dangers of the Omicron variant turned clear.

The choice comes only some weeks after the nation cautiously reopened its border to enterprise vacationers, international employees and college students, responding to calls from firms that feared falling behind the West.

On Friday, even earlier than the World Well being Group’s announcement classifying Omicron as a variant of concern, the Japanese authorities mentioned that every one vacationers arriving in Japan from six international locations together with South Africa would want to spend 10 days in a government-designated resort or different lodging facility and endure testing each few days. Three extra international locations have been later added to the listing.

Japan has had comparatively few Covid-19 instances lately after a spike over the summer time. For the previous few weeks, there have been fewer than 2 hundred instances a day, the bottom degree in additional than a 12 months. Almost 80% of the inhabitants is totally vaccinated.