Japan considers reopening borders to travellers from selected countries–but S’pore not on tentative list

Japan is considering reopening its borders to travellers from selected countries with low levels of COVID-19 infection rates as the East Asian nation begins to ease its COVID-19 restrictions on movement.

Reuters reported that the move may follow the reopening of schools, cinemas, sports clubs and department stores, all of which took place in Japan’s capital city of Tokyo on Monday.

Travellers from Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand are some of the countries cited as being on the tentative list of permitted visitors into Japan.

The travellers will only be allowed to enter Japan if they are tested COVID-19 negative in two separate tests conducted upon departure from their home countries as well as upon their arrival in Japan, Asahi Shimbun reported.

Once the visitors are permitted to enter Japan, their movements will be restricted to areas such as their accommodation as well as company offices and factories. It was also reported that the visitors will be banned from using public transportation.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry has yet to provide a response to the matter at press time.

Singapore was not included in the list of countries permitted to enter Japan in the coming months, which may imply that the Republic is not considered a country with low levels of COVID-19 infection rates.