[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Shin-won] As countries around the world impose entry restrictions on foreigners to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of countries and regions restricting entry of Japanese nationals has surpassed those restricting entry of Koreans.
According to government sources on the 20th, as of 7 a.m. (local time) on that day, the total number of countries and regions imposing entry restrictions on Japan stood at 209. This includes 131 countries and regions banning entry or landing, and 78 countries and regions imposing post-entry movement restrictions.
In contrast, as of the same time, the total number of countries and regions restricting entry of Koreans was 174, with 119 places banning entry, 4 places banning entry only in certain areas, 18 places imposing quarantine measures, and 33 places implementing enhanced quarantine or advisory measures.
The relatively rapid increase in countries restricting entry from Japan appears to be influenced by the fact that although the number of confirmed cases is lower than Korea’s, the number of tests conducted is also low, and the positive rate relative to the number of tests is high.
According to data compiled on the Blue House website as of that day, Korea had conducted 316,664 tests with a positive rate of 2.73%, whereas Japan had conducted only 14,072 tests, significantly fewer, but recorded a positive rate more than twice as high at 6.75%.
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