The government is considering lowering the level of the travel alert that currently calls on Japanese nationals to refrain from nonessential travel to all countries and regions due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to sources.
It has concluded that the fear of Japanese travelers not being able to return home has eased as countries around the world are lifting their border closures, and has thus begun coordinating to lower the alert level.
In general, the government issues a Travel Advice and Warning for countries and regions that require special attention to travel or stay there. It is currently asking citizens to avoid nonessential travel to countries and regions worldwide, which is the second lowest of the four categories. The government is likely to set the alert level at or below Level 1, which asks people to exercise caution on their trips.
Apart from the travel advisory, the government issues infection risk information according to the situation of the pandemic.
In its Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases, the government has issued a Level 3 warning for 159 countries and regions and has asked citizens to avoid all travel there. This is stricter than the travel alert.
The government is considering lowering the level of 12 countries and regions, including China, South Korea and Taiwan, to Level 2 in the infection risk information. It means the government will ask the public only to refrain from traveling to these 12 countries and regions.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
