TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Wednesday his goal of easing border controls since early September by eliminating pre-departure COVID-19 testing needs for travelers who have obtained at least 3 doses of the vaccine, and will also expand daily access to covers as soon as next month.
Japan, which has imposed some of the strict border measures over the coronavirus, recently demands negative effects of the PCR test within 72 hours of departure for all participants, a practice that has been criticized as cumbersome.
Kishida, after holding virtual meetings with government ministers and medical advisers earlier Wednesday, told reporters at an online press conference that participants who have won at least one booster shot can opt out of pre-entry starting Sept. 7.
“We gradually plan border controls to allow access procedures to be as straightforward as those of other Group of Seven countries,” Kishida said from his official residence, where he was on duty while isolating himself after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. . .
Kishida said his government also plans to increase the limit for inbound travelers, recently set at 20,000, “as soon as possible. “According to media reports, the government plans to more than double the limit to 50,000 starting next month.
“Our fight against the virus is not easy, but we deserve not to be too scared and instead the characteristics of the omicron variant,” Kishida said. “We will strengthen our responses while balancing infection measures and social and economic activities as much as possible. “
Kishida said Japan plans to shorten the era of self-isolation for COVID-19 patients from the existing 10 days for those with symptoms and one week for those without symptoms. Authorities are finalizing those details, he said.
In June, Japan partially opened its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in two years, but only allows those who agree to participate in tour packages with guides. The number of participants has decreased due to these restrictions.
Trade organizations in Japan and abroad have called on the country to reduce its border controls on the economy, especially the tourism industry, which has been severely affected by the pandemic. with a seventh wave of infections.
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Past performances and tributes to WFUV program director Rita Houston