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TOKYO, April 28 (AP) – Japan will lift most of its coronavirus border controls, including the requirement for those entering the country to show proof of three vaccinations or a negative test before departure, starting Saturday as the country’s Golden Week holiday begins. The holiday season begins and a large influx of foreign tourists is expected.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that all symptomatic entrants will still be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival until May 8, and those who test positive will be housed in designated isolation facilities.
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After May 9, testing of symptomatic people will be voluntary.
Japan will also roll back a special measure imposed in late December when infections surged in mainland China that required tourists from mainland China to undergo random testing on arrival, he said.
The government had planned to implement the changes on May 8, when it would downgrade the official status of the coronavirus to a common infectious disease such as seasonal flu, but decided to expedite it during the holiday period, which began on Saturday.
The Japanese government dropped the mask requirement in March, leaving it up to everyone to decide.
Most Japanese continue to wear them, although they are now only recommended on crowded trains, hospitals and other public places, and near the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
COVID-19 is currently classified as a Category 2 disease, along with SARS and tuberculosis, allowing restrictions on the movement of patients and their close contacts, and allowing governments to issue emergency measures.
Downgrading it to level 5 would repeal those rules. (AP)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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