Since the troubling rise in Covid-19 coronavirus cases worldwide, many parts of the world have banned flights from certain countries and placed strict quarantine protocols on travellers coming from abroad. While many flights coming into Japan have been cancelled, there are still some Japanese nationals trying to return from overseas. On top of requiring a 14-day quarantine for all new arrivals, passengers fresh off the plane cannot leave the airport until they have received their coronavirus test results.
今、海外から日本に着くと段ボールホテルに隔離だそうです。コロナ難民キャンプ🤣🤣🤣 #成田空港 #コロナ隔離 pic.twitter.com/ja7uacWWYU
— J’s Channel (@jwada1963) April 10, 2020
The test results can come back in a matter of hours, but due to delays, some passengers have had to wait for as long as two days to receive results. To accommodate the passengers coming in, Narita International Airport has set up cardboard beds in the concourse for passengers to sleep in while they wait.
The kits, which include a mattress and quilt, were originally meant for evacuation purposes in case of natural disaster, but have proved useful, not just for those awaiting test results, but also travellers waiting to be picked up from the airport (new arrivals are banned from public transport until they complete their 14 days of quarantine).
本日はここで寝ます。成田空港。検査結果出るまで出られまーん。 pic.twitter.com/0WrNMdqrPh
— ワサビ@自主隔離中🇻🇳 (@wasabi1094) April 8, 2020
With its concourse full of makeshift beds, some have dubbed the airport the 'Cardboard Hotel'. The areas for men and women have been separated in the baggage claim area, but some passengers have voiced concerns about the risk of infection from staying in close proximity to so many others.
Travellers have also been provided with emergency food supplies, as they don’t have access to the airport’s restaurants. According to Reuters, an airport official said most of the travellers have not had to stay on the cardboard beds overnight, as arrangements are being made at nearby hotels.
Get live updates on the Covid-19 coronavirus situation in Tokyo and Japan here.
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