TOKYO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Tuesday raised its travel advisory to level 3 for around 50 countries, warning its citizens to avoid all travel to these regions amid the continued global spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The foreign ministry's latest travel advisory for 50 countries, including 21 in Europe, nine in the Middle East and Africa, seven in Southeast Asia and six in South America, is its second highest level and states that Japanese people should "avoid all travel regardless of purpose."
"Global infections have been increasing at a faster pace and we are deeply concerned for the safety of our citizens," Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a press briefing on the matter, citing border closures and stay-in-place orders enacted overseas as promoting the raising of the travel advisory.
The ministry's highest level requires Japanese people to "evacuate immediately" from a country or region, and has yet to be issued as a result of the pandemic.
As Japan also looks to curb the virus from being imported from overseas, the government plans to extend its ban on foreigners entering the country.
