The Japanese government has scrapped its plan to send former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a special envoy to Malaysia this month amid mounting concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, a person familiar with the decision said Wednesday.

Abe had been slated to make the visit as next year marks 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia.

Japan has imposed strict travel restrictions in response to the Omicron variant, banning new entries by foreigners and calling on airlines to stop taking reservations for inbound international flights through the end of December.

Two cases of the variant, which scientists fear may be more transmissible than other strains and able to evade immunity through vaccines or previous infection, have been confirmed in Japan.