Japan bans foreign visitors due to Omicron's growth

Japan, the world's third-biggest economy, will close its borders to all foreigners, while Australia's plans to re-open to skilled migrants were also in doubt as nations scrambled on Monday to rein in the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Japan will close its borders to all foreigners from Tuesday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. Australia is to review plans to re-open from Dec. 1 to skilled migrants and students, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, adding it was a “bit too early” to reinstate a two-week hotel quarantine for foreign travelers.