TOKYO – The Japanese Health Ministry on Tuesday approved the use of saliva to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the detection of COVID-19 infections.

MANILA/TOKYO – A total of 160 Filipinos who were stranded in Japan amid the new coronavirus outbreak has returned home to the Philippines through the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Philippine Consulates-General in Osaka and Nagoya.

MANILA/TOKYO – Philippine Airlines (PAL) will start flying a limited number of passenger flights to Japan from June 22 after a hiatus due to travel curbs imposed by the government in an effort to contain the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic.

MANILA – The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) cited the services of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in helping handle the new coronavirus outbreak, utilizing the JICA-assisted multi-role response vessels (MRRV).