Japan's entry ban added 14 more countries to list, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Russia, it was decided in a government meeting Monday.

The ban targeted foreigners who have stayed in those countries in the past two weeks. It will go into effect as of April 29 at midnight.

The total number of countries in the entry ban list is now at 87 countries and regions.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe explained at the meeting, "We have decided to reassess the measures, as the growing number of infected people around the world has not stopped." 

“Japanese people who have returned from those countries and regions will definitely carry out PCR tests,” he added.

For an additional 14 countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised the infectious disease risk information to Level 3 on April 24 and recommended to the people to stop traveling. 

Abe also announced that it will extend the implementation period by one month until the end of May for measures that require immigrants from all over the world to wait for two weeks at designated places.

JIJI Press