Key Japanese ruling party official Kono hopes for March easing of border curbs (updated)

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries

03/02/2022 08:20

(Adds details throughout)
    By Elaine Lies and Rocky Swift
    TOKYO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Japan's former vaccine czar and a
key official of its ruling party, Taro Kono, hopes the nation's
strict border curbs against coronavirus, which are the toughest
among the Group of Seven wealthy nations, can be eased from
March, he said on Thursday.
    With the borders shut for nearly two years, the lives of
students, researchers and workers have been disrupted, prompting
business leaders to warn about the possible economic impact,
particularly amid a tight labour market.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2U01B7
    Though briefly eased last year, the measures, which have
massive support from the public, were tightened again from late
November as the Omicron variant surged, with Prime Minister
Fumio Kishida aiming to retain them until the end of February.
    "Let's hope that quarantine will be lifted on March 1," said
Kono, who was drafted in last year to run the vaccine programme
but now heads public relations for Kishida's ruling Liberal
Democratic Party.
    "It may not be, it may not happen that way, but it is
important to be ready," added Kono, who has taken to social
media to criticise the policy, which lets in citizens and
foreign permanent residents, but very few others.
    Kono, a lawmaker often touted as a future prime minister,
said he agreed with the principles behind the border policy when
it began, but execution had been flawed.
    "Why should we discriminate against foreigners? Omicron
doesn't know if (a person) is Japanese or American or Iranian,"
he added. 
    "It doesn't make any sense - economically, scientifically or
whatever," Kono said, adding that while it was OK to ask
tourists to wait, those planning to spend longer periods, such
as students or businessmen on postings, should be let in.
    Kono criticised Japan's lagging booster programme in the
face of rapidly-spreading Omicron, which pushed nationwide
infections to more than 90,000 on Wednesday, saying that more
control for local governments was key. 
    Japan has fully vaccinated almost 80% of its population, but
the booster programme has covered just 4%, versus 27% in the
United States, and more than half in South Korea and Singapore.
    "This time, because I'm not there, the Health Ministry wants
to control everything ...," he said. "That's a sure way to fail
- and that's exactly what they're doing."
    Although opinion polls have showed Kishida's support
slipping, and disapproval edging up over his handling of the
coronavirus, Kono saw little political risk to him ahead of this
summer's crucial upper house elections.
    "I think with this Omicron, by the end of March it will
subside and hopefully we can kickstart the economy," he added. 
    "And the election is July, so this shouldn't pose much
problem for us." 

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FACTBOX-Latest on global spread of coronavirus     
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Coronavirus: knowns and unknowns     https://reut.rs/2UHIgvz
COVID-19 Vaccine rollout:    https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access/
 FACTBOX-Worldwide coronavirus deaths exceed 6 mln    
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 (Reporting by Rocky Swift and Elaine Lies; Editing by David
Dolan and Clarence Fernandez)
 ((elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-4563-2748; Reuters
Messaging: elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com))