Japan will deny entry to foreigners on the cruise ship Westerdam that has left Hong Kong, amid concern about new coronavirus infections aboard the vessel, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday.

Abe said the ban will take effect from Friday based on Japan's immigration law.

(File photo shows the cruise ship Westerdam.)
[ullstein bild/Getty/Kyodo]

Since Feb. 1, Japan has been barring entry to foreign nationals who have been in Hubei Province where Wuhan, the epicenter of the viral outbreak, is located within two weeks of their arrival in Japan. Holders of Chinese passports issued in the central Chinese province have also been prohibited from entering Japan.

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