Japan to re-open borders for Brunei, Singapore expatriates

A security guard walks at the departures area of the international terminal at Narita International Airport. - AFP

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept 27 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Japan has announced that it has agreed with Brunei and Singapore to re-open their borders for newly arriving expatriates and other long-term residents from Oct 8 and Sept 30.

Those eligible to travel will be allowed on condition they self-isolate for 14 days after entering the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

The two South-East Asian countries will join Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Taiwan, with which Tokyo established a travel corridor for long-term residents.

Japan currently bans in principle the entry of foreigners from 159 countries and regions.

“We see the resumption of new entries (of foreigners) to Japan as an extremely important issue,” Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at a press conference.

“The government as a whole is seriously considering how to restart travel while taking measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.”

Japan has seen over 80,000 coronavirus infections with over 1,500 deaths, significantly less than hard-hit countries such as the United States (US) which is nearing seven million infections. - Borneo Bulletin/Asian News Network