Japan will further strengthen its border control against a novel coronavirus variant spreading in India, Chief Cabinet Secretary KATO Katsunobu said Tuesday.

Beginning Friday, travelers from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives will be requested to stay at facilities designated by the government for 10 days, longer than the six days currently present, Kato said at a press conference.

Subject to the new rule are Japanese returnees and foreigners having special circumstances from the six countries. They need to take a coronavirus test on the third, sixth and tenth day during their stays at the designated facilities. They will be allowed to return home if they show negative results.

Meanwhile, nationals from the six countries having residency status in Japan are currently banned from re-entering the nation in principle.

The government additionally designated Britain, Kazakhstan, Tunisia and Denmark as areas where the India variant is spreading, with travelers from the four countries to be requested to stay at designated facilities for three days.

“The government will continue to take necessary countermeasures flexibly to ease concerns among the public,” Kato said.

JIJI Press