Foreigners Unvaccinated Against COVID-19 Allowed Entry
2-Week Quarantine Exempted If Only Installing Smartphone App for Movement Tracking
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] It has been reported that Japan is considering a plan to accept a large number of foreign spectators during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which were postponed due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 2nd, the Japanese government plans to implement COVID-19 measures during the Olympics held from July to September next year and virtually accept foreign spectators who have reserved tickets without restrictions.
Approximately 4.45 million tickets for the 2020 Olympics were sold in Japan, and 1 million tickets were sold overseas. Most of the foreigners who purchased tickets are people who will watch multiple events.
Depending on the future COVID-19 situation, there may be cancellations, but it is currently difficult to predict the exact scale.
Accordingly, the Japanese government plans to establish a principle of preventing the spread of infection while guaranteeing the freedom of movement for spectators based on the COVID-19 epidemic situation and finalize detailed measures by next spring.
According to the plan under review by the Japanese government, the vaccination, which is currently in the final stages of development, will not be set as an entry requirement for foreign spectators.
Also, foreign spectators holding tickets will be allowed to move freely using public transportation without a two-week quarantine, as long as they submit a negative COVID-19 certificate and install a dedicated smartphone app to input movement information and health status.
Records of visited places will be kept on the smartphone with the individual's consent, but the Japanese government will not forcibly track movement using the Global Positioning System (GPS).
If a foreign spectator is suspected of having come into contact with an infected person during their visit to Japan, the government-operated contact notification app "COCOA" will notify the individual to undergo appropriate testing either during their stay or after returning home.
The policy is to guarantee foreign spectators' personal information and freedom of movement while ensuring that they can respond promptly if infection is confirmed.
The Japanese government plans to create a special ID for foreigners visiting Japan to watch the Olympics, requiring registration of visa, ticket number, facial photo, and negative certificate in the related app, which will be checked upon entry to venues.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun predicted, "If large-scale interactions that balance human rights and safety are realized at the Tokyo Olympics held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it will become an international model," and added, "It could also be utilized for accepting foreign tourists after the Olympics."
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