Japan Begins Accepting New Entry Applications for Eased COVID Quarantine Rule
The Japanese government on Monday started accepting new entry applications from companies and educational institutions for individuals from overseas, easing restrictions that were introduced in January amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The COVID-19 quarantine period has been cut to three days from 10 days for business travelers who have been vaccinated as progress in inoculations has been made around the world.
“We have taken a step toward easing some of the restrictions as infections have been declining and in response to strong demand by the business community,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said at a news conference.
Companies and educational institutions must file the required documents in advance and receive government approval to host individuals from overseas on condition that they will supervise those entering the country accordingly.
The farm ministry began receiving many inquiries Monday related to the application process for technical interns, at a time when the country is facing a shortage of workers in the agricultural sector due to the graying and decline of the population.
“I’m not sure how many applications we will receive. There are many things that must be checked, so we expect our workload to reach a level we have never experienced before,” said a senior farm ministry official.
An official in charge of processing the applications at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which oversees the manufacturing sector among others, said his section has been constantly answering phone calls from people inquiring about receiving interns under the relaxed restrictions.
While the government is continuing to suspend the entry of tourists, it will also consider resuming acceptance of tourist groups by reviewing within this year how their activities can be controlled and monitored.
Those who are eligible for the shorter quarantine period must have been fully inoculated with vaccines by either Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca, the three currently approved by the Japanese government.
Firms need to submit documentation for business travelers, including written pledges by the businesspeople and companies to follow anti-virus measures as well as the planned activities of the travelers upon arrival in Japan.
It may take a week or two before the first travelers who have been granted shorter coronavirus quarantine periods arrive in the country, a health ministry official said.
The new measure comes after Japan has seen a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases following this summer’s fifth wave of infections and economic activities have continued to resume.
Companies welcomed the easing of restrictions. Keita Ishii, the president of major trading house Itochu Corp. told a press conference on Friday that the easing of restrictions would benefit his company’s operations considerably.
Students and interns entering for extended stays under the new rules must be tested for COVID-19 several times, including before departing for Japan and three days after arriving in the country.
Their quarantine period will be 14 days in principle but shortened to 10 days for those who have received one of the three vaccines approved in Japan.
Japan suspended in January the new entry of foreigners, including businesspeople, in principle, following an explosive virus resurgence and the spread of highly contagious variants. It has only accepted individuals under “special circumstances,” such as on humanitarian grounds.
