Japan restricts travel from China and S. Korea. And, for them, it is excessive. (Image via Japan Today)

Protested as too 'excessive', Japan defends its travel restriction on China and S. Korea

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
International
Mar 06, 2020
1486
Japan imposed a new travel restriction on visitors from China and South Korea (S. Korea) in a fight to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Starting Monday, any visitor from China and S. Korea will be quarantined for two weeks at designated sites.

The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was said to be the man behind the policy. On Thursday, Abe requested a new policy to ensure the safety of the Japanese people after weeks of criticism that led the public trust toward him deteriorates due to his seeming incapability to handle the outbreak.

While Seoul protested the policy as “excessive”, Japan’s government said otherwise. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the policy had been measured according to the information available about the situation and the effects. Suga added that the timing is precise.

Seoul regretted that Tokyo would impose such an “excessive and reasonable” travel policy. On Friday, S. Korea’s Foreign Ministry will summon the Japanese Ambassador for S. Korea to file a complaint.

The Olympic Minister, Seiko Hashimoto, ensured that the Summer Olympics will proceed as plan in late July. Hashimoto said that the cancelation would be unacceptable for the athletes. Previously, Hashimoto said that Tokyo’s contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allows a postponement until the end of 2020.

Per Friday, the confirmed case of COVID-19 in Japan rose to 1,056 nationwide, including 705 from the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama Bay. At least 12 people passed away from the disease.

Source: https://bit.ly/2TCb744

Politics , Regulation , Policy , Travel , Medical , Health , Disease , Pulmonary , Pneumonia , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Tourism , Restriction , Asia , Japan , S.Korea , China