The Japanese government plans to suspend the entry of all foreigners as the coronavirus continues to spread around the world.

Japan halted all new arrivals of non-nationals last month after new strains of the coronavirus that are believed to be highly transmissible were confirmed in the UK and elsewhere.

But it continued to allow entry by businesspeople from 10 Asian countries and Taiwan.

The government plans to suspend the entry of travelers, regardless of whether a coronavirus variant has been detected in their country, as part of its tighter entry restrictions following the declaration of a state of emergency.

No foreigners will be allowed to enter Japan, except for special reasons, such as a relative's funeral or childbirth.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said last week he plans to ban travel to and from countries and territories where a new strain of the coronavirus has been confirmed.

But members of his party and others described the measure as confusing.

Source: ANNnewsCH