Japan will suspend entry for foreigners from tomorrow to contain the spread of a new strain of COVID-19 first discovered in the UK. Japan registered its first cases of the new strain of the coronavirus on Saturday.
The country is also witnessing record daily infections of the original coronavirus.
All Japanese nationals will be required to submit negative COVID-19 test results received within 72 hours before their departure from any country that has confirmed cases of the mutant virus. Passengers will also have to pass another COVID-19 test upon their arrival in Japan.
The entry ban will not apply to the businessmen and students from 10 countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan, with which Japan had reached an agreement regarding the issue.
The government has already decided to suspend the issuance of new visas from tomorrow.