From February 1, Japan to Deny Entry to Confirmed Wuhan Pneumonia Cases

Japanese Government Legally Designates Novel Coronavirus as a 'Designated Infectious Disease'

Can Take Compulsory Measures Such as Denying Entry to Infected Individuals

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Japanese government has designated the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) as a 'designated infectious disease' and will advance its enforcement to February 1, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on the 31st.

According to the report, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced at the House of Representatives Budget Committee in the morning that the novel coronavirus, which is spreading mainly in China, will be legally designated as a designated infectious disease and enforcement will begin on February 1. Originally, the Japanese government planned to enforce it from February 7, but the enforcement was moved up following the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the novel coronavirus a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)'.

Prime Minister Abe stated, "If infection is confirmed among those wishing to enter Japan, entry can be denied, and even if infection is not confirmed, we will consider strengthening entry controls."

A designated infectious disease allows for compulsory hospitalization of patients or restrictions on employment. For example, if foreign tourists refuse hospitalization due to medical cost burdens, the government can cover the costs and hospitalize them.

This is the fifth time Japan has designated a disease as a designated infectious disease since the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2014. For the four previously designated infectious diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), no domestic infection cases occurred, so compulsory measures like this have never been implemented before.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.