Japan on Friday began requiring COVID-19 tests for all passengers arriving from China as an emergency measure against rising infections there and as Japan grapples with a rising number of cases and record deaths at home.
Japan reported a record 420 new coronavirus deaths on Thursday, a day after reaching a previous record of 415 deaths in a single day, according to the Health Ministry.
The numbers are higher than daily deaths at the peak of a previous wave in August, when they topped 300. Experts say the reason for the latest rise is unclear, but it could be related to deaths from worsening chronic diseases. among elderly patients.
Japan tightened its border measures on Friday, making the antigen test that has already been carried out on entrants suspected of having COVID-19 mandatory for all people arriving from mainland China. Those who test positive will be quarantined for up to seven days at designated facilities and their samples will be used for genome analysis.
The measures began before the New Year holidays marked by travel and parties. Direct flights between China and Japan will be limited to four major Japanese airports for now, government officials said.
Earlier this year, Japan stopped requiring COVID-19 tests for participants who had at least three vaccinations, part of the country’s careful easing of measures after virtually closing its borders to foreign tourists for about two years. This year’s holiday season is the first without virus restrictions aside from recommendations for mask wearing and testing.
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The country is now reporting around 200,000 known cases daily.
At a meeting earlier this week, experts warned that the rapid spread of influenza this winter also has the potential to add pressure to medical systems.
China recently rolled back its anti-virus controls that kept the country isolated for nearly three years and this week announced plans to reissue passports and visas for foreign travel. This could send many Chinese abroad for the Lunar New Year holiday in January, raising concerns about the possible spread of the virus.
India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan have also responded to the Chinese wave of infections by requiring virus tests for visitors from China. The United States said on Wednesday that it would require tests of all travelers from China starting January 5.
China stopped issuing visas to foreigners and passports to its own people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
