Japan to extend foreigner entry curb over omicron concerns


FE Team | Published: December 18, 2021 16:29:23 | Updated: December 19, 2021 18:26:09


A man wearing a protective mask walks past the headquarters of Bank of Japan amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan, May 22, 2020.REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File

Japan will extend a curb on foreigners entering the country beyond year-end to prevent the spread of the omicron variant, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Saturday citing anonymous government sources, according to Reuters. 

Japan reversed an easing of controls late last month as omicron spread around the world and has one of the world's strictest border policies.

Although COVID-19 cases have fallen dramatically since a deadly wave in August, there is growing concern about the omicron variant, which has been found more than 30 times in Japan, mostly during airport screening and quarantine.

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