Japan bans coronavirus-infected travellers after outcry over lax response

A decision by quarantine officers in Tokyo to allow two Japanese nationals, who were airlifted on Tuesday from the Chinese city at the centre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, to return to their homes without being tested for the virus has triggered widespread anger and concern.

It also brought forward a ban, announced on Friday by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on anyone confirmed as having the disease from entering Japan. That requirement, to be implemented on Saturday instead of February 7 as initially planned, also gives quarantine officials broad powers to test any new arrivals for the virus and enforce hospitalisation where necessary.

The death toll from the virus in China rose to 213 on Friday, with confirmed cases in the country surpassing the 9,000 mark. Fourteen people have been confirmed infected with the virus in Japan, according to Health Minister Katsunobu Kato.

Two of the patients, a bus driver and a tour guide, are thought to have been infected by contact with tourists from Wuhan. Japan, which relies on China as its biggest trading partner and source of tourists, has not restricted visitors from the hardest-hit areas.