Coronavirus quarantine measure to be extended

The government intends to extend a measure to quarantine or isolate foreign visitors who are infected with the novel coronavirus, it has been learned.

The measure, which falls under the Quarantine Law, was originally put into effect until February next year, but its terms are to be extended by around one year with the aim of providing thorough border controls for when the influx of international arrivals resumes. The government plans to submit a bill to revise the law to an extraordinary Diet session to be convened later this month.

The Quarantine Law allows an authority to hospitalize or take other measures to isolate people infected, or suspected of being infected, with contagious diseases at the time of their entry into Japan that can seriously affect the health and lives of the public. The period is capped at one year. In February, the government revised an ordinance to allow inpatients to be hospitalized in isolation or to stay in accommodations, and the deadline of the measure was set for February 2021. The bill is expected to include a special provision permitting quarantine extensions for people infected with the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the government has eased restrictions on the new entry of foreigners to help resume international traffic, mainly targeting those with plans to stay for three months or longer. To not put excessive pressure on testing facilities, the maximum intake will be set at around 1,000 people per day. However, foreign arrivals are expected to increase in future when international flights begin to make a comeback.

The revision of the law is aimed at securing the authority to quarantine or isolate infected people as a “last option” to prevent infections from overseas.

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo An empty boarding lobby is seen at Haneda Airport on April 30.