Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday that Japan will extend its tight entry rules until at least early next year to prevent the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The government initially said the rules, banning new entry by foreign nationals worldwide and requiring returning Japanese nationals and foreign residents to quarantine in government-designated facilities, would be in place for about a month to the year's end.

Kishida told reporters that the government will continue with the rules until more details of the omicron variant are known.

"We will study the situation after the year-end and New Year's (holiday)," he said.

Japan reversed an easing of controls late last month as omicron spread around the world. The country has one of the world's strictest border policies, with only citizens and foreign residents allowed to enter, in principle.

Although COVID-19 cases have fallen dramatically since a deadly wave in August, there is growing concern over the omicron variant, which has been found more than 30 times in Japan, mostly during airport screenings and quarantine.

Source: ANNnewsCH