The government on Dec. 10 removed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the list of countries from which Japanese travelers are subject to “confinement” at the facilities it designates. This is the first time that a border control measure taken in response to the emergence of the Omicron new coronavirus variant was lifted. Meanwhile, the government will add travelers from Iceland and a part of India (Rajasthan) to the confinement list starting at 12:00 a.m. on Dec. 12.