ANKARA 

Japan will reopen its borders to foreigners from all countries starting October, the country’s prime minister announced on Friday.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said foreign nationals with permits to stay in Japan, including students but excluding tourists, will be allowed to enter, Kyodo News reported.

“To revitalize the economy, it is indispensable to resume international travel,” Suga told officials part of Japan’s coronavirus task force.

As part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Tokyo had imposed an entry ban on people coming from 159 countries and regions.

Japan has recorded 81,126 infections, including 1,520 deaths, so far, with the pandemic causing a record fall of 28.1% in the gross domestic product of the world’s third largest economy, according to latest government figures.