In an attempt to contain the global spread of the coronavirus, many countries are closing their borders and tightening travel restrictions. Gaining entry into Japan from abroad is also increasingly difficult.
With that in mind, Tohoku University is strongly urging all students and staff who are currently overseas to return to Japan as soon as possible to avoid getting stranded. This includes those who are based in countries not on the government's high risk list.
On returning to Japan, students and staff must self-isolate at home for 14 days regardless of where they travelled in from. Those coming in from the government's list of high risk countries will have to go through official quarantine protocols.
For students and staff based in Japan, the university has stopped all non-urgent international travel, in line with the government's new, stricter measures.
Update:
Japan's foreign ministry has raised its travel alert for the entire world to level 2 on its four-level scale. This means that Japanese residents must stop ALL non-urgent travel regardless of the destination.
According to MOFA the move is aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and also to avoid having citizens unable to return to Japan after going abroad.
NHK reported that this is the first time that Japan has issued such an alert for the whole world, underlining the severity of the pandemic.
Tohoku University students and staff who absolutely must travel - including foreign students who wish to go home - should consult with their departments ahead of time.
Link:
- WHO
- Ministory of Justice (MOJ): Notice on Denial of Landing Contact
- Ministry of Health
- Japan National Tourism Organization
Contact:
Tohoku University Department of Workplace Safety and Health
Email: anzen
grp.tohoku.ac.jp