<p>Japan will reinstate tough border measures, barring all new foreign arrivals over the Omicron Covid variant, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Monday, just weeks after a softening of strict entry rules.</p>.<p>"We will ban the (new) entry of foreigners from around the world starting from November 30th," Kishida told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/omicron-covid-19-variant-cases-inch-up-as-the-world-rushes-to-learn-more-1055647.html" target="_blank">Omicron Covid-19 variant cases inch up as the world rushes to learn more</a></strong></p>.<p>Japan's borders have been almost entirely shut to new overseas visitors for most of the pandemic, with even foreign residents at one point unable to enter the country.</p>.<p>In early November, the government announced it would finally allow some short-term business travellers, foreign students and other visa holders to enter the country, while continuing to bar tourists.</p>.<p>Tokyo had already announced on Friday it would require travellers permitted to enter Japan from six southern African countries to quarantine in government-designated facilities for 10 days on arrival. The step was expanded to a total of nine countries over the weekend.</p>.<p>That measure now affects travellers coming from South Africa and neighbouring Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.</p>.<p>Kishida said Monday that further quarantine restrictions would be imposed on arrivals from an additional 14 countries and regions where the variant has been detected, without giving further details.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/botswana-detects-19-cases-of-the-omicron-covid-variant-1055615.html" target="_blank">Botswana detects 19 cases of the Omicron Covid variant</a></strong></p>.<p>The prime minister said Japan is "in a stronger position against the Omicron variant than other countries," citing voluntary mask-wearing and self-restraints about risk behaviours.</p>.<p>Japan has recorded just over 18,300 coronavirus deaths during the pandemic, while avoiding tough lockdowns. After a slow start, the country's vaccination programme picked up speed, with 76.5 percent of the population now fully inoculated.</p>.<p>It has not detected any Omicron cases but the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is analysing a case of a traveller from Namibia who recently tested positive for the coronavirus.</p>.<p>Kishida said he recognised there "might be criticism" that the border tightening was "too cautious when we don't have a full understanding of the situation."</p>.<p>"I take full responsibility for that," he added.</p>
<p>Japan will reinstate tough border measures, barring all new foreign arrivals over the Omicron Covid variant, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Monday, just weeks after a softening of strict entry rules.</p>.<p>"We will ban the (new) entry of foreigners from around the world starting from November 30th," Kishida told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/omicron-covid-19-variant-cases-inch-up-as-the-world-rushes-to-learn-more-1055647.html" target="_blank">Omicron Covid-19 variant cases inch up as the world rushes to learn more</a></strong></p>.<p>Japan's borders have been almost entirely shut to new overseas visitors for most of the pandemic, with even foreign residents at one point unable to enter the country.</p>.<p>In early November, the government announced it would finally allow some short-term business travellers, foreign students and other visa holders to enter the country, while continuing to bar tourists.</p>.<p>Tokyo had already announced on Friday it would require travellers permitted to enter Japan from six southern African countries to quarantine in government-designated facilities for 10 days on arrival. The step was expanded to a total of nine countries over the weekend.</p>.<p>That measure now affects travellers coming from South Africa and neighbouring Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.</p>.<p>Kishida said Monday that further quarantine restrictions would be imposed on arrivals from an additional 14 countries and regions where the variant has been detected, without giving further details.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/botswana-detects-19-cases-of-the-omicron-covid-variant-1055615.html" target="_blank">Botswana detects 19 cases of the Omicron Covid variant</a></strong></p>.<p>The prime minister said Japan is "in a stronger position against the Omicron variant than other countries," citing voluntary mask-wearing and self-restraints about risk behaviours.</p>.<p>Japan has recorded just over 18,300 coronavirus deaths during the pandemic, while avoiding tough lockdowns. After a slow start, the country's vaccination programme picked up speed, with 76.5 percent of the population now fully inoculated.</p>.<p>It has not detected any Omicron cases but the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is analysing a case of a traveller from Namibia who recently tested positive for the coronavirus.</p>.<p>Kishida said he recognised there "might be criticism" that the border tightening was "too cautious when we don't have a full understanding of the situation."</p>.<p>"I take full responsibility for that," he added.</p>