Coronavirus latest: Japan to ease entry curbs for all countries in October; BTS cancels Seoul concert

Tokyo is considering limiting the entry of foreigners to about 1,000 each day, with increased virus testing capacity at airports

Meanwhile, India to hold election despite surging cases, while the infection rate in Australia’s Victoria state has dropped following a lockdown

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Japan currently bans in principle the entry of foreigners from 159 countries and regions. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 3:07pm, 25 Sep 2020Updated: 9:40pm, 25 Sep 2020

Japan will reopen borders for all foreign visitors with permits to stay in the country for some time, including students but excluding tourists, from October, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Friday, in a major easing of entry restrictions imposed to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

“To revitalise the economy, it is indispensable to resume international travel,” Suga told a government task force on coronavirus response.

Japan will take the measure as the number of new virus cases has been trending downward in recent weeks and testing capacity at airports has been boosted.

The relaxation roughly coincides with the start of the fall semester at Japanese universities.

Economic revitalisation minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is also in charge of the response to the coronavirus, said at the outset of the panel’s meeting that the government wants to add students to those being allowed entry.

The government is considering limiting the entry of foreigners to about 1,000 each day, with increased virus testing capacity at airports to accommodate them, according to Japanese officials.