Japan registers first case of Omicron a day after it banned foreigners

New Delhi : Japan on Tuesday registered its first case of Omicron variant of coronavirus, a day after authorities announced new COVID border restrictions for foreigners.

"Regarding the traveller arriving from Namibia, it was confirmed to be a case of Omicron after analysis at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases," government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

"This is the first Omicron case confirmed in Japan," he said, adding that the infected traveller, a man in his 30s, is now in isolation at a medical facility.

The announcement comes a day after Japan had sealed its border for foreigners. With implementation of the new rules, only Japanese citizens and existing foreign students will be allowed to enter the country.

Japan has recorded just over 18,300 coronavirus cases during the pandemic, while avoiding tough lockdowns.

Nearly, 77 per cent of the Japan population is fully vaccinated.