Japan considers relaxing Covid border controls

TOKYO – Japan may lift requirements for pre-departure Covid-19 tests for travellers and raise daily caps on entrants, domestic media have reported.

Japan has some of the strictest pandemic border measures among major economies, requiring travellers to present a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of departure.

The government may soon waive tests for vaccinated passengers, with the change taking effect in a few weeks, Nikkei reported on Monday. A daily cap of inbound travellers may be raised from 20 000 to 50 000 as early as next month.

Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno declined to comment on the timing of any border easing, saying it would depend on Covid conditions in Japan and overseas.

“Along with taking every measures to prevent contagion, we’ll also promote economic activity – and with border control measures, we’ll relax them in stages while keeping these two things in balance,” Matsuno told reporters.

Japan’s foreign ministry said it was aware of media reports, but deferred comment to the health ministry, which has jurisdiction over border infection controls. The health ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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