<Anchor>



Let's take a look at the corona news. The novel coronavirus mutation Omicron, which the world is worried about, is rapidly spreading to many countries. Starting with Botswana and South Africa, countries in the south of Africa, nine countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, the UK and Germany, have confirmed the confirmed cases. Not only this, but also in Israel, Australia, and other continents, including Canada, this mutation is being confirmed one after another. In Asia, it has only been found in Hong Kong so far, but Japan, our neighbor, has decided to preemptively ban all foreigners from entering the country from tomorrow (30th) in order to prevent Omicron.



Correspondent Yoo Seong-jae from Tokyo reported.



<Reporter> The



Japanese government has decided to ban new entry of all foreign nationals from tomorrow in principle to prevent the inflow of omicron mutations into Japan.



The entry into Japan for short-term business travelers, international students, and technical trainees, which began conditionally on the 8th, will also be suspended again, but the deadline is expected to be about a month.



Israel previously banned all foreign entry for two weeks.



Prime Minister Kishida explained that although there have been no confirmed cases of Omicron infection in Japan, the measure is a preemptive and urgent response to prevent the worst.



[Kishida/Prime Minister of Japan: This is a temporary, unusual measure until some information (about the mutation) is revealed. I will take full responsibility for criticism that I am too cautious.]



In the midst of this, a man in his 30s who came to Japan from Namibia, Africa yesterday, was tested positive for Corona at the airport quarantine.



Namibia is one of nine African countries where Japan has mandated 10-day quarantine even for its own citizens, and authorities are analyzing the presence of Omicron.



The number of confirmed cases in Japan yesterday was 73, and the delta mutation epidemic, which surpassed 20,000 daily confirmed cases before and after last summer's Olympics, has barely subsided.



Our quarantine authorities said they are currently banning the entry of foreigners from eight African countries, but are not considering a plan to restrict the entry of all foreigners.



(Video coverage: Han Cheol-min, Moon Hyun-jin, video editing: Choi Hye-young)



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