Japan has issued a new emergency declaration for all the travelers entering Japan. The new Covid-19 emergency declaration has been issued to tackle a record surge in COVID-19 cases as the head of the nation’s pandemic response said on Saturday.

All travelers must fill the questionnaire on the government website before entering Japan and provide the QR code during the arrival. The government of Japan has Temporary suspension of a new entry into Japan from all countries and regions begins 28th December until the end of January except for the United Kingdom and the Republic of South Africa.

The cross-border travelers with a valid effective visa issued on the assumption that they will be permitted to enter Japan for those who have stayed in the United Kingdom or the Republic of South Africa within 14 days prior to the application for landing. For those who have stayed in any of the countries and regions to which Travel Advice & Warning on Infectious Diseases Level 3 is issued within 14 days prior to the application for landing and will arrive in Japan after 0:00 am (JST) on January 4th, 2021.)

The government of Japan has eased the 14-day quarantine at home or other designated locations for Japanese Nationals and foreign nationals with residence status, when they return to Japan after short-term business travels to all countries and regions, with the condition that the person is sponsored by a company/entity that can commit observation of quarantine measures.

However, from December 28, 2020, till the end of January 2021,those who are returning to Japan from all countries and regions except of the United
Kingdom and Republic of South Africa must undergo 14-day quarantine at home or other designated locations.

From December 30, 2020, until the end of January 2021, travelers entering Japan from countries and regions except for travelers from the United Kingdom and Republic of South Africa except for those who enter or
return to Japan under the framework of “Business Track” and “Residence Track”) is required to provide mandatory negative COVID-19 report done within 72 hours from the date of sampling time to the return time of the flight. The COVID-19 test is mandatory as well at the airport quarantine stations at the arrival.

Those who do not hold the negative COVID-19 testing result mentioned above will be requested to stay at specific facilities designated by the authority of Quarantine Station in accommodation facilities designated by the Quarantine Station for 14 days.

During the press conference, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said, “The national government and the three governors shared the view that the situation in the Tokyo area is getting more severe such that an emergency declaration may be necessary,” Nishimura said.

Minister Nishimura clarified during the press, that the measure taken with the current decision of closing all restaurants and karaoke parlors in the Tokyo area at 8 p.m. All business that serves alcohol should close at 7 p.m.

The new decision of action against lockdown has raised the concern as Tokyo raised its COVID-19 case recorded above 4000+ on the day of 31st December 2020.