Japan extends entry restrictions to end February
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 11 (Xinhua) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on the 11th that Japan’s epidemic prevention measures to close the border to most foreign citizens will be extended until the end of February to curb the spread of the mutated new coronavirus Omicron strain.
Kishida told media reporters on the same day that strict entry restrictions will help slow the spread of the Omicron virus strain and “gain time” for Japan to deal with the epidemic.
This is the international departure gate of Terminal 1 of Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan, taken on November 30, 2021. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Xiaoyu)
On November 30 last year, the Japan Broadcasting Association TV reported that Japan had found the first case of infection with the Omicron strain. Japan immediately decided to suspend the entry of foreigners in principle from now on, with the exception of Japanese citizens and their spouses and foreigners with qualifications to reside in Japan. The stipulated period is tentatively set for one month. On December 18 last year, Kishida said it would extend the restrictions until at least the beginning of the year, but did not give a deadline.
The Japanese government previously set a limit of about 3,500 people entering Japan each day.
Japan reported 6,438 new confirmed cases of the new crown in a single day on the 10th, including 871 new confirmed cases in Tokyo in a single day, 8 times the figure a week ago.
Japan launched the booster vaccination last month, and the first batch of vaccinations were medical staff. As of the 7th, the proportion of the Japanese population receiving booster shots was only 0.6%.