Japan's policy on in-flight omicron close contacts was brought into line with the definition for other coronavirus infections on Tuesday — two rows in front of and behind where the infected person was sitting — amid concerns that the central and local governments would run out of quarantine facilities for close contacts.
Health minister Shigeyuki Goto made the announcement Monday night, citing the low numbers of infected people who are suspected to have caught the virus during a flight.
"The percentage of passengers on the same flight who tested positive is the same level as those found to be infected after they went through quarantine procedures at airports," Goto told reporters. "It is true that the number of close contacts will decrease, but it is based on objective evidence."