TOKYO – Japan announced Thursday that travelers entering the country from the Philippines will be required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival as part of stronger measures to “prevent the further spread” of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).
Aside from the Philippines, similar step applies to arrivals from 10 other countries, namely Bahrain, Brunei, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Qatar.
The measure will start on March 28 and be in effect until the last day of April.
Affected travelers will be asked to undergo a 14-day quarantine period at locations designated by the quarantine station chief. They will also be asked to refrain from using public transportation.
“If you are a Filipino traveling to Japan or are a returning worker/resident in Japan, please make your plans accordingly,” the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said in a statement.
The Japanese government will also suspend visas that have already been issued to citizens of the said countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
According to the preliminary data published by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of visitors from the Philippines in January was 53,600, up 48.9 percent from the same month last year. - Words by Florenda Corpuz, Photograph by Din Eugenio
