Apr 04, 2020 (Japan Times) - The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo issued a warning to American citizens Friday that said those with plans to return should do so now or risk being stuck here for an “indefinite period.â€
Singling out Japan’s lack of widespread testing, the embassy gave a sobering assessment of the potential strain the novel coronavirus could place on Japan’s health care system should infections spike.
“The Japanese Government’s decision to not test broadly makes it difficult to accurately assess the COVID-19 prevalence rate,†the embassy said on its website, referring to the illness caused by the virus.
“While we have confidence in Japan’s health care system today, we believe a significant increase in COVID-19 cases makes it difficult to predict how the system will be functioning in the coming weeks,†it said.
If U.S. citizens want to return to the United States from Japan they should do so now or risk staying abroad for an “indefinite period,†it said. It also noted that Americans with pre-existing medical conditions may not be able to get the medical care they were used to receiving before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
It also noted that only 11 percent of airlines’ pre-pandemic flight capacity from Japan to the United States remained in operation as of Friday. Since Japan’s entry restrictions will further reduce availability in the near future, getting back for a family emergency in a timely manner could become difficult or even impossible, the embassy said.
It thus urged U.S. citizens to work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while limited commercial flights are still available, noting that travelers seeking return fights should do so immediately in light of the potential for rescheduling or cancellations.
