Japan, South Korea extend ban on entry of foreign nationals from 11 African countries to February ne

As the global epidemic situation intensified, Japan and South Korea had to institute stricter entry measures to control the spread of the epidemic in the country.

Let's take a look at the situation in Korea first.

On the 12th, Ko Jae-young, a spokesman for the Korea Agency for Disease Control, said that as of 0:00 local time on the 12th, there have been more than 70 confirmed cases of the new crown among the people who recently went to the United States to participate in the exhibition, and it is expected that this number will continue to increase. In addition, due to the continued spread of the new crown epidemic, South Korea's entry policy may continue to be extended.

Gao Zairong emphasized that the corresponding returnees need to be tested on the first day of entry and before release from isolation, strictly abide by the isolation regulations, report suspected symptoms in a timely manner, and actively cooperate with community epidemic prevention work.

South Korea's Central Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquarters has previously stated that the ban on short-term foreigners from 11 African countries including Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, and Zambia will be extended to February 3, 2022. Prevent the mutated new coronavirus Omicron strain from entering the country.

However, with the increasing number of cases of infection with the new coronavirus Omicron variant among Korean overseas inbound personnel, it is expected that the prevention and control measures such as quarantine for 10 days for inbound personnel originally scheduled to expire on February 3 will continue to be extended.

Just some time ago, two elderly people in their 90s in a nursing home in Gwangju died after being infected with the mutated new coronavirus "Omicron". This is the first time South Korea has reported a death case of infection with "Omicron".

Let's look at the situation in Japan.

In a news poll conducted in early January this year, 89% of respondents affirmed the ban on new entry of foreigners, and most Japanese nationals support this high-intensity epidemic prevention policy.

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida also said that an extension of the entry policy must be considered. Subsequently, Prime Minister Kishida stated that the government has formulated new measures to extend entry restrictions until the end of February. Except for special circumstances, the new regulations for foreigners to enter the country will be stopped for the whole world, and post-entry isolation measures will be taken according to risks.

However, while the restrictions are being extended, a special case for some visas is being studied to ease entry. At present, the relaxation of entry restrictions for foreign family members and international students of Japanese people is being discussed out of humanitarian concerns. The specific rules will be announced after further study.

In addition, for foreigners coming to Japan from 11 designated countries such as South Africa, which has spread to Omicron, Japan's policy is to refuse re-entry even if they hold the status of residence. The official chief said that this policy will also be adjusted.

According to the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) on January 11, as of 18:30 local time on the 11th, there were 6,239 new confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in Japan. According to statistics, the number of new coronavirus infections in Japan has exceeded 6,000 for five consecutive days.

Professor Kurahashi from the University of Tsukuba, who participated in the government's research on infection countermeasures, predicts that if the current rate is maintained, the daily increase in infections in Tokyo will exceed 10,000 after entering February, and it will reach nearly 50,000 in early March!

Professor Kurabashi said that to reduce the number of infected people from 50,000 to less than one-third, on the one hand, it is necessary to control the flow of people in the busy streets at night to 50%, and on the other hand, it is necessary to continue to vaccinate and distribute new crown oral drugs.