The government of Japan said on Monday it would close its borders to foreign travelers, as the world's third-largest economy joined Israel in taking the toughest measures against the new Coronavirus variant ‘Omicron'.
Seemingly more contagious than other variants, Omicron, which is first detected in South Africa, has been found in other countries like Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The World Health Organisation informed that It could take from several days to weeks to understand the severity of the new variant. As a precautionary measure to keep off a worst-case scenario, Japan will close its borders to all foreigners from midnight on Tuesday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.
He informed the reporters that first and foremost the country will ban the entry of foreigners and also the native returnees would proceed for quarantine in a designated facility.
Though Japan has not yet confirmed any cases of the new variant Omicron, however rapid and intensive tests are being carried out to determine if the new variant had infected a traveler from Namibia who recently visited the country.
On the other hand, Israel sealed its border from Sunday midnight. It has also decided to engage its ‘counter-terrorism phone tracking technology to combat the new variant.
Whereas, Australia said it would review plans to reopen its borders to skilled migrants and students from Dec. 1, after reporting its first Omicron cases.
A South African doctor informed that the symptoms of Omicron are so far mild and could be treated at home
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