TOKYO: The Japanese government, at a cabinet meeting Friday, adopted tighter restrictions on entry by travelers from China and South Korea, in the fight against the new coronavirus.

Effective from Monday next week, all travelers from the two neighboring countries, including Hong Kong and Macau, will be asked to stay in designated places for 14 days after arriving in Japan, and to avoid using public transportation.

The government also decided to reject entry by foreigners who have visited certain areas in South Korea or Iran within two weeks before their arrival in Japan. This measure will be introduced on Saturday.

At a press conference on Friday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga explained that the new entry restrictions will also affect Japanese citizens arriving from China and South Korea.

Suga fended off criticism that the government was slow to adopt the effective quarantine policy, announced on Thursday evening by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"In this ever-changing situation that makes it difficult to predict the future with certainty, we made the decision after comprehensively examining situations in other countries and possible implications" from the tighter border controls, the top government spokesman said. The decision came "at the right time," he added.

Health minister Katsunobu Kato told a separate news conference that the government will have no legal power to compel travelers from China and South Korea to follow the 14-day quarantine request.

"We can only make a request, but will strive to gain thorough cooperation" from the travelers, Kato said.

Meanwhile, transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said a total of 530 flights a week are expected to be affected by the government's plan to limit arrivals from China and South Korea to Narita International Airport in a Tokyo suburb and Kansai International Airport near the western city of Osaka.

JIJI Press