Japan is barring entry of all non-resident foreign nationals as a precaution against a new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant that has spread across Britain.
The Foreign Ministry says the entry ban will start on Monday and last through until 31 January.
Last week, Japan banned non-resident foreigners coming from Britain and South Africa after confirming the new variant in seven people over the past two days – five from Britain who tested positive at airports and two others in Tokyo.
Japan is also suspending the exemption of a 14-day quarantine for Japanese nationals and resident foreigners in a short-track program that began in November.
The entrants now must carry proof of a negative test 72 hours prior to departure for Japan and self-isolate for two weeks after arrival.
Japan is struggling with surging cases since November.
It has confirmed a total of 217,312 cases including 3,213 deaths, up 3,700 from the previous 24-hour period.
Tokyo alone reported 949 cases, setting a new record, despite calls by experts and government officials for people to spend a “quiet” holiday season.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on 14 December that a spike in COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom might have been linked to the new variant of the virus in the country.
He said more than 1,000 cases of the new variant had been identified, mainly in southeastern England.
Countries around the world have in recent days closed their borders to both Britain and South Africa following the identification of cases of the new, fast-spreading variant in those countries.
