TOKYO (AP) – Japan bans the entry of all non-resident foreign nationals as a precaution against a new and potentially more contagious variant of coronavirus that has spread to the UK.
The Foreign Ministry said the entry ban would start on Monday and last until January 31.
Last week, Japan banned non-residents from coming to the UK and South Africa, after confirming the new variant in seven people in the last two days – five in the UK that tested positive at airports and two in Tokyo.
Japan is also suspending a 14-day quarantine exemption for Japanese citizens and foreigners residing in a short-term program that began in November. Participants must show a negative test 72 hours before departure to Japan and isolate themselves for two weeks after arrival.
Japan has been struggling with rising cases since November. It confirmed a total of 217,312 cases, including 3,213 deaths, up 3,700 from the previous 24-hour period. Tokyo alone reported 949 cases, setting a new record, despite calls from experts and government officials for people to spend a “quiet” holiday season.
Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region:
– South Korea has decided not to immediately apply the strictest distance rules in the Seoul area, despite the increase in the number of coronavirus cases. The area is currently under the second largest spacing rule. There have been calls for the restrictions to be raised to the highest level, but the government is reluctant to do so due to economic concerns. Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said on Sunday that the government would maintain the current restrictions in the Seoul area until January 3. He said the third highest level of distance rules imposed in other regions would also remain in force until January 3. Korea recorded an average of 999 new cases a day last week, of which 690 in the Seoul area. Under current rules, nightclubs, karaoke halls, fitness centers, gyms and office schools in the Seoul area have suspended operations. As additional measures, authorities banned social gatherings of more than five people last week and ordered the closure of ski resorts and other tourist spots. The harshest restrictions would shut down hundreds of thousands of other companies and order companies to have all non-essential employees working from home. South Korea reported a total of 56,872 cases, including 808 deaths.
– Beijing officials reported five new cases of locally transmitted coronavirus, while authorities rushed to mass testing residents. The five cases, related to previous infections, lived in the Shunyi district of the city, which has since activated an emergency response plan, including mass testing, source tracking and disinfection. By Saturday noon, more than 120,000 had been tested for coronavirus. Authorities plan to test 800,000 people in the district. Separately, officials reported four cases transmitted locally in the northeastern port city of Dalia, where more than 4.75 million people were tested following more than 20 confirmed cases this month. China has reported 22 new cases in the last 24 hours, including 10 imported and 12 domestic. China has so far reported a total of 86,955 cases, with 4,634 deaths.
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