KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2020 - 13:25 | All, World, Coronavirus

Seven countries have restricted entry to Japanese nationals and those traveling from Japan in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday.

The countries are Israel, Samoa, Micronesia, Kiribati, Comoros, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands, Motegi said at a news conference.

The virus, which originated in China and causes a disease known as COVID-19, has spread across the globe infecting more than 78,000 people. There are over 800 confirmed cases of infection in Japan, with many from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama.

Japan has asked Israel to remove the travel restrictions, and briefed each country about Tokyo's fight against the virus outbreak.

Motegi asked people to check the Japanese Foreign Ministry's website before making travel plans.

Related coverage:

Virus deaths in China tops 2,600, Hubei records more infections

Japan adopts basic policy to fight spread of coronavirus outbreak