politics

Japan, Singapore to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions from September

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It's a big con. It's just talk. The Vietnam easing lasted just 2 flights. Just to get some execs to their meetings.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

All those countries listed have and will continue to have better covid controls than Japan, so Japan won't lose out on any such deals.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This kind of movement seems to be unavoidable. Necessary bare minimum movement should begin to be permitted between not so serious countries.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

England on the other hand has now opened it's borders to many countries unconditionally.

So to each its own policies really, but economies need to be revived, livelihoods and lives are at stake.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

MontyToday 07:19 am JST

I am not a big fan of opening the borders.

I always said, keep the borders close and dont let imported Corona cases come into Japan.

The Borders should have never been closed ... its not like that helped at all -.-V

You are saying pretty much the same as most Countrys pointing fingers, this is a stupid Virus, it won't just magically stop at a countries boarder.

Of course an Island state like Japan has better chances then most other countries to somehow close themselfes off from the rest of the world but as you still NEED to trade as no country is 100% self sustaining (including things you don't need to survive but which still are asked for).

Currently Germany is pointing their finger at people coming back from hollidays which are possible within Europe again already even though statistically more people get infected inside Germany then outside while at their hollidays. Still everyone need an "enemy" and it is easier to say that the others are at fault

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Singapore , with its big brother government, can implement this, can't say the same about Japan.

Maybe Japan is relying on the good sense and judgement of the individuals, that's why they are carefully selecting the countries. There are countries far more important as trading partners than those first considered I think but they have to be really careful and realistic.

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

Yes, they need to jumpstart international commerce as soon as possible

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

About time.

-13 ( +0 / -13 )

The eligible business travelers will be exempt from a 14-day self-quarantine period after arriving in Japan, or Singapore provided they submit an itinerary of their stay, limit their travel to between where they are staying and the workplace, do not use public transportation and avoid contact with random people or crowds, the ministry said.

Singapore , with its big brother government, can implement this, can't say the same about Japan.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

Good luck using 'Line' to report your health condition for two weeks. Not the easiest app to use, and you are inundated with adverts and stickers every day.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

You can't even go to a clinic if you show a fever of 37.4........

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Singapore is the Silicon Valley of Asia, its where all the jobs are but too early to open boarders when Japan still has trouble dealing with covid-19 and are not adequately medically equipped to deal with mass infections.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

*Well, It’s like the saying goes...” my mistake.

-14 ( +0 / -14 )

Long term residents back of the queue again.

I do not have a smartphone, if I can’t download the spy ap does this mean I will be permanently barred from Japan?

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

Eveybody can now see that a PR visa in Japan is worth exactly the same as a tourist visa. If you need to stay long term in Japan you must get a Japanese passport. Secretly keep your foreign passport as many do.

20 ( +21 / -1 )

Are they dreaming?

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Wow, it’s like the saying goes, “you have to start somewhere.“

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

Much ado about very little.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Has to happen. Borders can't be shut forever. That said, I won't be traveling to Japan for a while regardless until I can do so relatively freely.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

The agreement between Japan and Singapore will cover short-term business travelers as well as expatriates and other long-term residents, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

I completely agree with letting in long-term residents and expatriates (aka people who had obtained a job in Japan but couldn't start it because the borders closed and now are stuck without an income--I am one of them). But why short-term business travelers?! What's the point?

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

The eligible business travelers will be exempt from a 14-day self-quarantine period after arriving in Japan, or Singapore provided they submit an itinerary of their stay, limit their travel to between where they are staying and the workplace, do not use public transportation and avoid contact with random people or crowds, the ministry said.

When Shinzo Abe organized his "mercy dash" flights for Japanese business people in China back at the start of the pandemic, some high-ranking executives refused quarantine, weren't tested and went straight back to their offices. One would have to be very naive to believe these ministry guidelines will be followed.

This is insane. In order to travel, you must give the state permission to spy on your movements both during and after your trip. This sounds to me like a massive power grab by the Japanese state, and I hope it is challenged in court.

The Japanese government has been conducting mass surveillance on residents here for years. They do what they like, with no oversight:

“Incidentally,” the court noted, “the plaintiffs allege that the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Police Agency had, as of 31 May, 2008, assessed and digitalized the personal information of ‘roughly 12,677 individuals’ equaling ‘roughly 89 percent of the 14,254 foreign nationals from Muslim countries registered in Tokyo,’ and later, by the time the Hokkaido Toya Lake summit convened in July of that year, had ‘profiled roughly 72,000 individuals from OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference) countries (assessment rate of 98 percent).’

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2016/06/15/issues/whos-watching-japan-state-secret/

21 ( +23 / -2 )

If a person is tested 4 days and one day before flying (both ways) and is negative I don't see a problem.. Make the passenger pay for the tests as well.

-14 ( +5 / -19 )

Money talks.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I am not a big fan of opening the borders.

I always said, keep the borders close and dont let imported Corona cases come into Japan.

But sooner or later, the borders must be open to revive the economy.

No choice.

I just hope that Japan will not see a big increase in cases.

I always hope for the Best!

-27 ( +3 / -30 )

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