The Japanese government has decided to temporarily suspend all agreements that allowed non-resident foreigners and business travelers to visit the country. The new restriction is set to take effect on Feb. 7.
Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, stated that the decision was made on account of the massive surge in coronavirus cases around the world and to prevent the new highly transmissible variant of COVID-19, first discovered in the U.K., spreads domestically.
In order “to protect people’s lives and livelihoods, and to remove potential risks, I have decided to temporarily suspend” the entry of foreign nationals, Said the Minister.
Once the restriction takes effect, the only people allowed will be those coming to the country for special reasons such as a relative’s funeral or childbirth.
From an epidemiology point of view, there are solid reasons to be concerned.
A year after the first confirmed case of COVID-19, Japan finds itself in the middle of “a deeply troubling situation” with an unstoppable third wave of infections hitting the country once again.
To tackle the growing number of cases the country has not only rolled back their traveling agreements but it’s also speeding up vaccination programs.
Yoshihide Suga, has affirmed that vaccination nation-wide is set to start at the end of February.
However, Health minister, Norihisa Tamura, expects the vaccine to be approved a couple of weeks sooner.
Under the current situation, about 80% of a population sample said they were against hosting the Olympic Games.
Japan’s Administrative and Regulatory Reform Minister, Taro Kono has said they are preparing for the games the best they can but they have yet to see the outcome.
The Summer Olympic Games were supposed to take place last year in Tokyo but were postponed due to the pandemic. They are expected to happen this summer.