TOKYO – The Japanese government said Tuesday it will impose a six-day quarantine period on travelers who have recently been to Vietnam and Malaysia as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the highly-contagious Indian coronavirus variant.

Starting Friday, anyone who has been to either of the countries within 14 days of arrival will be required to stay in a government-designated facility and be tested twice for infection.

Japan will also impose a quarantine period of 10 days on travelers recently in Afghanistan and three days on those recently in Thailand and 15 U.S. states including New York and California.

“We will take the necessary steps in a timely manner,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, said at a press conference in reference to the government’s border controls.

Meanwhile, starting Friday travelers who have been to Israel or Slovakia within 14 days of arrival will no longer be subject to a three-day quarantine period amid easing concerns over the British coronavirus variant.