Nine Countries Including South Korea Advise Against Traveling to Japan... Japanese Government Contemplates Response Measures

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan, including those on the cruise ship 'Diamond Princess,' exceeded 700, the number of countries advising their citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan has increased to nine, including South Korea. The Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are reportedly considering countermeasures.

According to NHK, on the 21st, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated at a press conference that nine countries?including South Korea, Israel, Thailand, Bhutan, Micronesia, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, and the Solomon Islands?have advised their citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan due to the risk of COVID-19 infection. Foreign Minister Motegi added, "The United States and Taiwan have also issued travel advisories for Japan," and said that Japanese authorities will continue to inform about infection prevention measures and safety.

Not only the Japanese government but also the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is reacting sensitively to the travel advisories from various countries, especially with the Tokyo Olympics just over five months away. At the LDP General Council meeting that day, there were many opinions that Japan's COVID-19 response is not gaining sympathy overseas in relation to some countries discouraging their citizens from traveling to Japan, and that overseas promotion efforts should be strengthened.

On the same day in Japan, new infections were confirmed consecutively, including three teenagers, two of whom are elementary school students, in Hokkaido testing positive for COVID-19. As of 2 p.m. that day, the total number of infections in Japan, including 634 passengers on the cruise ship 'Diamond Princess,' had risen to 731.