Japan: Authorities to end state of emergency for Tokyo and surrounding prefectures March 21 /update 45

Event

Japanese authorities will cancel an ongoing state of emergency in Greater Tokyo, including Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama prefectures, March 21 due to reduced COVID-19 activity. Under the state of emergency, officials have asked restaurants and drinking establishments to stop serving alcohol from 19:00 and close by 20:00 daily. Authorities also ask residents to remain at home after 20:00, encourage businesses to allow telecommuting for 70 percent of employees, and reduce capacity at sporting and entertainment venues to 50 percent, with a cap of 5,000 people. Businesses violating the rules may face fines of up to JPY 300,000 (USD 2,750); individuals who test positive for COVID-19 but refuse to go to the hospital can be subject to penalties of up to JPY 500,000 (USD 4,584). These measures remain in effect until the state of emergency ends. Despite the cancellation, local leaders in Greater Tokyo will continue to request that high-risk establishments close by 21:00 daily.

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 are limiting each domestic carrier to 3,400 passengers weekly and foreign carriers to 100 passengers per flight. International passenger ferry services remain suspended.

Travel Restrictions
The government continues to ban most foreign nationals from entering the country. Only Japanese citizens and resident foreign nationals can enter the country; however, officials permit foreigners to enter under special circumstances. Authorities may continue to prohibit business travel from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore, Brunei, and South Korea beyond the state of emergency period.

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. The government will not permit people who cannot undergo testing to board flights or enter Japan from March 19. Exceptions may be possible in some circumstances, but affected passengers must contact their local Japanese diplomatic mission before departure. As of March 18, individuals arriving from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates 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. The requirement will become effective for travelers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Pakistan, and Poland from March 20.

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. Entrants must also download the OSSMA, Skype, and COVID-19 Contact Confirming Application (COCOA) mobile applications. People that refuse 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