Japan business lobby urges government to lift ban on nonresident foreigners

TOKYO Kyodo Japan's largest business lobby called for the government to lift the entry ban on nonresident foreigners aimed at keeping the Omicron variant of the coronavirus at bay and preventing its spread now that domestic infections are mostly caused by the highly transmissible strain.

Masakazu Tokura, chief of the Japan Business Federation, said at a regular press conference that border restrictions have hampered domestic companies from making business trips and have smooth negotiations with foreign partners on tie-ups, mergers and acquisitions.

It was a good decision to cast a wide net in the first place. The head of the business lobby, Keidanren, said there is no point keeping the measure in place, because Omicron has already become the dominant strain in Japan.

The anti-coronaviruses entry ban was in place since Nov. 30, the day Japan confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant, and the government extended the measure earlier this month until the end of February.

Japan's daily coronaviruses exceeded 50,000 on Saturday after the spread of the Omicron variant, setting a record number of infections for a fifth consecutive day.

He said that the current entry ban is a policy of seclusion and we are not only doing business at home. Tokura, also chairman of Sumitomo Chemical Co., reiterated that the government should shorten the current quarantine period of 10 days for people who have been in close contact with someone infected with Omicron to help business continuity for companies.

Why does Japan impose 10 days? Why does it take only five days to complete the rest of the world? He said something.