The Japanese government eases travel restrictions for 106 countries and regions

DNHN - The Japanese foreign ministry attributed the move to the global trend of reducing illnesses and mortality. The ministry stated that it also considers immunization rates and a country's healthcare facilities when making choices.

The Japanese government eased travel restrictions for 106 countries and territories on Friday (April 1), with the vast majority occurring for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began. 

The State Department has reduced the number of specified destinations that are subject to a Level 3 alert. Level 3, the second-highest warning level on a four-point scale, strongly discourages travellers from visiting the sites. The remaining countries are concentrated in the Middle East and Africa. 

Meanwhile, 106 countries and regions have been moved to Level 2 warnings, advising against non-essential travel. More than 100 of these destinations have remained Level 3 for the past two years.

The revisions apply to the United States and the United Kingdom, which received their first Level 3 warnings in March 2020. Tokyo is now easing travel advice primarily for countries with whom Japan has developed strong business ties, such as India, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 

The State Department cited a global downward trend in cases and deaths as the reason for the change. The department said it is also basing decisions on vaccination rates and a country's healthcare infrastructure. 

Japan has lowered its travel warnings for China, South Korea, Singapore and Australia to Level 2. 

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters on Friday (April 1):”Some corporations and universities are consulting before making travel decisions. I intend to gather more information and issue appropriate warnings”.

Bao Bao