水際対策、一部緩和へ　外国籍家族・留学生ら念頭に政府調整

　政府は１０日、新型コロナウイルスの変異株「オミクロン株」発生を受けて厳格化している水際対策について、一部緩和する方向で調整に入った。外国人入国の原則停止は維持しつつ、日本人らの外国籍の家族や留学生の入国を例外的に認める案を検討している。岸田文雄首相は１１日に今後のコロナ対策を説明する考えだ。
　政府は昨年１１月３０日から外国人の新規入国を原則的に認めておらず、例外の範囲も絞り込んでいる。この措置の期間は当初、１カ月をめどとしていたが、首相は昨年１２月２１日に「当面の間、延長する」と表明。年末年始の状況を見極め、扱いを今月１１日以降に判断するとしていた。
　政府内では新たな期限として(1)１月末(2)２月末(3)３月末―などの案が出ている。オミクロン株の市中感染の広がりを受け、重点を水際対策から国内対策に移すことにしており、日本人らの外国籍の家族など人道的配慮が必要なケースでは入国の門戸を開く方向だ。（2022/01/10-20:27）

The Japanese government is considering partially easing the country's tightened border control measures in place amid fears over the spread of the new omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, informed sources said Monday.
   While continuing to ban new entry into Japan by foreign nationals in principle, the government plans to exceptionally allow entry of foreign national family members of Japanese citizens, as well as that of foreign students, according to the sources.
   The country introduced the stricter border control measures on Nov. 30, banning new entry into Japan by foreign nationals in principle and only allowing limited exceptions to the ban.
   The measures were initially set to be in force for a month, but Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Dec. 21 that they will be extended for the time being. The prime minister said the government will assess the infection situation at least through the year-end and New Year holiday period, and then think about what to do after that.
   Options of lifting the measures at the end of January, at the end of February or at the end of March are being discussed within the government, the sources said.