Japan: Authorities extend COVID-19-related state of emergency for 10 prefectures until March 7 /update 41

Event

Authorities have extended a state of emergency order for 10 prefectures until March 7 amid ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) activity. The extension will apply to Tokyo, Osaka, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, Kyoto, Hyogo, Aichi, Gifu, and Fukuoka prefectures. The order will end in Tochigi Prefecture Feb. 7. Under the targeted measures, local governments request that restaurants and drinking establishments stop serving alcohol from 1900 and close at 2000 daily. Authorities will also ask residents to remain at home after 2000, encourage businesses to allow telecommuting for 70 percent of employees, and reduce capacity at sporting and entertainment venues to 50 percent up to a cap of 5,000 people. Other prefectures could announce local states of emergency, which will probably closely align with the central government order. However, the state of emergency orders remain unenforceable under Japanese law, but compliance with previous orders has generally been high; officials will publicly list establishments that do not abide by the requests and provide increased subsidies for businesses that follow the recommendation.

In other areas of Japan, authorities are limiting sporting and entertainment venues to 50-percent capacity up to a maximum of 10,000 people. Some smaller venues and theaters can operate at full capacity. Business activity is mainly unaffected nationwide, but companies must adhere to social distancing directives. Some organizations have reduced capacity at facilities, established temperature checks, or encouraged telecommuting for employees.

Sporadic rail and flight disruptions remain possible nationwide amid generally reduced demand, especially on routes to and from areas under state of emergency orders. Physical distancing requirements are in place on most long-distance transport services. Flights from South Korea and China are only authorized to land at Narita International Airport (NRT) and Kansai International Airport (KIX). Transit flights for foreign nationals are only allowed through NRT. Authorities continue to suspend international passenger ferry services.

Travel Restrictions
The government continues to ban most foreign nationals from entering the country due to a new COVID-19 variant. Only Japanese citizens and resident foreign nationals can enter the country; officials will permit other foreigners' entry under special circumstances. Authorities will continue to prohibit business travel from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore, Brunei, and South Korea until at least March 7. The government is no longer honoring visas issued since Oct. 1.

Officials require returning citizens and residents to present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours of departure. Inbound passengers with a negative test result can self-quarantine for 14 days. Entrants that cannot receive testing before departure, as well as permitted arrivals from the UK and South Africa, must quarantine at a government-designated facility for three days and undergo COVID-19 testing before completing the remainder of the 14-day self-quarantine period. Returning residents must complete a pledge to abide by quarantine orders, maintain location data on their mobile phones, and refrain from using public transport during the first 14 days in the country. People that do not agree may have to quarantine at designated facilities. Officials could publicly name citizens and foreign residents who violate quarantine orders; foreign nationals could also lose their residence status.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Postpone travel if affected by an entry ban. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Confirm international flight reservations. Closely monitor national travel advisories, as additional restrictions to and from Japan are likely. Consider telecommuting options for staff. Make allowances for likely increased employee absenteeism and related business disruptions.

Resources

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan National Tourism Organization