"Japan's Policy to Deny Entry to Foreigners Staying in Korea, the US, and China"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Japanese government has decided to refuse entry to foreigners who have stayed in South Korea, China, the entire United States, almost all of Europe, and parts of Southeast Asia, considering the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), NHK and other broadcasters reported on the 30th.

According to the reports, the Japanese government plans to significantly strengthen the "Mizugiwa" measures to prevent overseas infection sources from entering through airports and seaports. If an entry refusal measure based on the Immigration Control Act is implemented, foreigners who have stayed in the target regions within the past two weeks will not be allowed to enter Japan unless there are special circumstances.

This policy was revealed when the Asahi Shimbun cited multiple government officials in a report on the same day. Asahi reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to raise the infectious disease risk information for these regions to "Level 3." "Level 3" is a stage recommending that nationals refrain from visiting. In the case of South Korea, the entry refusal measures, which were previously applied to Daegu and parts of Gyeongbuk, will be expanded to the entire country.

The Yomiuri Shimbun also reported on the same day that the Japanese government has begun reviewing the addition of more than 40 countries and regions in Europe, North America, and Asia, where COVID-19 infections are spreading, to the list of entry refusal targets. It was also reported that China and South Korea are considering expanding the entry refusal targets from some regions to the entire country.