Tokyo, Nov 26th : Japan will tighten travel restrictions for six African countries following the discovery of a new Covid-19 type in South Africa, according to a top government spokesperson. Starting Saturday, travellers who have recently been to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe will be requested for a 10-day quarantine period in a government-designated facility upon their arrivals, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno announced at a press conference.
After leaving the government-designated facility, travellers will also need to spend four more days in quarantine at home to ensure they are not infected.According to Xinhua news agency, the earlier rule allowed them all 14 days at home.
This decision was made amid growing concerns about the spread of a Covid-19 variant known to as B.1.1.529.Experts warn that this infectious disease could be more contagious or decrease the effectiveness of existing vaccines.
Matsuno stated that the Japanese government had decided to label the variant as one that required special responses and would respond proactively if it spreads.
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