Japan’s Kishida to announce easing of pandemic border controls

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to announce an easing of the country’s strict pandemic-related border restrictions, including an end to pre-departure COVID-19 tests, according to Japanese media.

Kishida will hold a briefing on Wednesday afternoon to announce the new measures, which will include waiving coronavirus tests for vaccinated arrivals, Qazet.az reports citing the Kyodo news agency.

The government is also expected to raise its daily cap on arrivals, with the Fuji News Network reporting that the quota could be raised from 20,000 to 50,000 as early as next month.

Japan is one of the last major economies relying on strict border controls to manage the virus, despite vaccinating more than 80 percent of its population.

Under the current rules, inbound passengers must present a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of departure and tourists are restricted to guided, package tours.

Kishida, who has cancelled trips to the Middle East and Africa after testing positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, said in May that he planned to bring Japan’s border measures more in line with G7nations.