Japan is likely to drop its pre-departure COVID-19 tests requirement for travellers and raise daily caps on entrants, the Nikkei reported Tuesday (Aug 23) citing government sources.
An exemption for those who have been vaccinated is among the options the government is considering, the report said. A daily cap of inbound travellers may be raised from 20,000 to 50,000 as early as next month, Fuji News Network said on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday (Aug 22) in an online news conference that he is planning to announce a package of coronavirus measures in the “next few days,” including eased border controls and a reclassification of the coronavirus.
At present, those entering Japan need to submit a negative result from a test taken within 72 hours before departure. Daily arrivals, including by Japanese nationals and foreign residents, are also capped at 20,000.
