Japan Suspends Visas Issued In The Philippines Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

According to NHK, a national broadcasting organization, the Japanese government has decided to suspend visas issued in 11 countries in Southeast Asia—including the Philippines—in an effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Beginning Saturday, March 28, around 750,000 visas from the following countries will be suspended: 

• Philippines
• Indonesia
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Brunei
• Vietnam
• Malaysia
• Israel
• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Democratic Republic of the Congo

Prior to this, Japan already invalidated several visas from countries like China, South Korea, and most of the countries in Europe, the report states. In an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, it is said that these measures will last until April 30, 2020, but that the "implementation period can be renewed." 

As of writing, Japan has 1,387 confirmed cases of COVID-19: 47 have died, 359 have recovered.

For more stories on COVID-19, please click here.