Japan will ask a 14-day self-quarantine for travelers from 38 European and other countries, including Egypt and Iran, from Saturday to the end of April, in an attempt to curb the spread of the COVID-19, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said here on Wednesday.
The temporary quarantine measure targets travelers from 38 countries, including all 26 members in the Schengen Area, as well as Ireland, Britain, Egypt and Iran, Abe said at a meeting of a government task force on fighting the virus.
During the 14-day self-quarantine period, travelers from the targeted countries will be urged not to use public transportation in Japan.
Visas already issued to people from the targeted countries will be invalidated from Saturday to the end of April, Abe added.
The government also plans to impose an entry ban starting from Thursday on visitors from parts of Spain, Switzerland and Italy, as well as all of Iceland.
Japan is scrambling to prevent a surge in domestic infections with the Tokyo Olympics roughly four months away.
As the number of cases has exceeded 200,000 globally, Abe also called on Japanese citizens to exercise caution if they plan to travel overseas.