Japan adds more countries to entry ban list amid COVID-19 pandemic

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced that Japan has expanded the list of countries whose citizens have been barred from entering the country. Latest reports state, as the country steps up its control on the borders, Japan has included 14 more countries in the said banned list. All this is because of COVID-19 pandemic and to stop its spread. It has also issued warnings against any travels to these areas as the deadly virus continues to spread globally.
Reportedly, apart from the 11 countries in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, citizens from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine have also been banned from entering the country. The Japanese Premier following his meeting with the Coronavirus taskforce, said that this measure regarding the 14 countries, will be implemented from April 29. He also instructed the extension of visa issuance for foreigners till May.
As of now, Japan is under the ‘state of emergency’, and officials are considering all the aspects and trying to gauge whether they should consider extending the measure. However, apart from the 14 new entries in the list, Japan had already banned entry of citizens from more than 70 countries in the country, which it implemented much earlier.

Further, as the Coronavirus pandemic has led to travel restrictions globally, Japan banning the entry of foreigners will affect travelers from many countries, including the United States of America, South Korea, China, and most of Europe. The country has also suspended visas issued to people from the rest of the world.
Also as reported earlier, those returning from the restricted areas will be subjected to additional screening.