Japan to Mandate COVID-19 Testing for Arrivals from China Starting the 30th

On the 9th (local time), medical staff wearing protective suits were preparing equipment in front of a fever clinic at a hospital in Beijing, China. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the number of COVID-19 cases in China has surged recently, the Japanese government will mandate COVID-19 testing for travelers arriving from China starting on the 30th.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 27th, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated at the Prime Minister's Office that "due to the sharp increase in COVID-19 infections in mainland China and the rising anxiety within Japan, we have decided to implement special measures."

Accordingly, the Japanese government will require COVID-19 testing for those entering Japan from China and for individuals who have visited China within the past seven days.

Additionally, those who test positive will be subject to a seven-day quarantine. Restrictions will also be placed on increasing flights between China and Japan.

Previously, Japan had completely lifted COVID-19 testing requirements for all international arrivals starting October 11. Since then, overseas arrivals only needed to submit proof of three COVID-19 vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours prior to departure from their place of residence.

Prime Minister Kishida explained the reason for this policy by saying, "There is a significant information gap between the Chinese central government and private sectors, making it difficult to accurately grasp the COVID-19 spread situation in China."

However, he added, "We plan to respond flexibly to ensure that international travel is not completely halted," and stated that this decision would not significantly affect the Japanese government's existing policy of gradual return to normalcy.

Meanwhile, China has drastically eased its strict zero-COVID policy, resulting in a surge in confirmed cases. On the 25th, Zhejiang Province, located on China's eastern coast, announced that daily new COVID-19 cases exceeded one million. Although the Chinese government has stopped releasing daily COVID-19 infection statistics, local health authorities estimate that the total daily new cases across China could reach up to 37 million.