Japan to require all travelers from China to take COVID test

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday that his government will tighten restrictions on travelers entering Japan from China, in response to the rapid increase in cases following China's decision to loosen its harsh zero-COVID policy. Japan will require all travelers from China to be tested upon arrival from Friday. If a person tests positive, a seven-day quarantine will be needed at a designated facility. The government will also impose mandatory testing on travelers who have been in China in the last seven days. Currently, if a traveler to Japan has proof of having received three doses of coronavirus vaccines or a negative test within 72 hours before departure, no mandatory testing upon entry is needed. All positive test results will be subjected to genome analysis to determine if any new variants have been detected. The government will not allow airlines to increase the number of flights from and to China. "In order to avoid a sharp increase in the influx of new cases into the country, we are focusing efforts on entry inspections and airports," the prime minister told reporters. "There is a large discrepancy in infection information between the central and local governments and between the government and the private sector, making it difficult to obtain a detailed understanding of the situation." He also added, "We will do everything possible not to stop the smooth international travel."<br/>