Tokyo: Japan has confirmed its first five cases of the new, faster-spreading variant of the coronavirus in passengers arriving from the United Kingdom as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga urges the nation to spend a “quiet New Year” period.
Health Minister Norihisa Tamura announced the cases late on Friday after his meeting with Suga, adding that the premier called for strict quarantine measures at airports and on those returning from the UK.
Japan has banned entry from the UK, with the exception of returning Japanese nationals and those with residence permits.
The New Year period is an extended national holiday in Japan, with many people usually travelling back to their hometowns and spending time with family and friends.
Earlier on Friday, Suga called for a quiet New Year without the usual social gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has been breaking infection records almost on a daily basis.
He also announced a package of $2.6bn for hospitals treating COVID-19 patients which have come under strain due to the rapid rise in cases across the northern island of Hokkaido as well as large cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
“I want you to spend a quiet New Year,” the premier told a news conference in Tokyo, with the government’s leading coronavirus expert Shigeru Omi also present.
“The infections aren’t coming down and if we keep going like this, we won’t be able to avoid further spread of the virus.”
