Lagatar24 Desk
Tokyo, Jan 11: Japan will extend measures preventing practically all new foreign arrivals until the end of February and reopen mass-vaccination sites, as it battles an omicron-fueled coronavirus surge, the government announced on Tuesday.
“We will keep the current border control policy until the end of February while taking necessary measures from a humanitarian viewpoint and considering the national interest,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Local media reported that additional exemptions for members of Japanese families and students studying in Japan will be implemented, but officials provided no immediate details.
To speed up booster doses, the government would restore large-scale vaccination stations managed by the Self-Defense Forces, as well as ask local governments to reopen their own mass-inoculation sites, according to Kishida.
Those entering Japan from outside the country face tight border controls, including quarantine and periodic testing. Despite these attempts, the omicron version has been spreading locally, with a dramatic increase in viral cases in Japan.
“Even though the omicron strain is said to have a low ratio of serious cases, if the number of infections surges, the number of serious cases will increase and put pressure on the medical system,” Kishida said, calling for the public to remain vigilant.
After clusters of cases arose among the military and nearby towns, the government has already approved new virus restrictions for three regions, and US forces in Japan have prohibited personnel from non-essential off-base trips for two weeks.
Overall, Japan’s infection rate is still low, with 8,249 cases registered across the country as of Sunday.
However, the numbers are increasing, and the amount on Sunday was among the highest since September. The pandemic has claimed the lives of little over 18,400 people in the country.
