Source::AP
The Japanese government have finally catered to the criticism by slowly easing the border controls. The government has increased the number of people allowed to enter each day and has reduced quarantine requirements after the harsh restrictive policies were denounced as unscientific and xenophobic.
The Japanese Prime Minister said the daily cap of people allowed to enter the country will be increased from 3,500 to 5,000 from March 1. The quarantine measures have been shortened from seven to three days and those with proof of a negative COVID-19 test and booster shot can skip the self-isolation process.
These decisions by the government have been in response to the criticism led by mainly foreign scholars, exchange students, business travellers and other workers who have been stranded as the current border rules prohibit their entrances.
Many of the Japanese companies had also been pushing for this reform as they had been protesting, telling that the prolonged border closure has and will affect investment, business deals, product development and deliveries.
The Japanese government have notified the government that further easing of border controls will happen based on the scientific assessment of the omicron variant, infection levels and outside Japan and quarantine measures taken by other countries.
