国际英语新闻:Airport blunder allows 92 on Chicago flight into Japan without quarantine request

TOKYO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- More than 90 passengers and crew members on a flight to Japan's Narita airport from Chicago were given entry to the country without being requested to self-quarantine for 14 days and not use public transport, the health ministry here said Friday.

The self-quarantine measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus came into effect for passengers departing from the United States after midnight on Wednesday in Japan.

The 92 passengers and crew members departing Chicago, however, were granted unconditional entry to Japan at the airport near Tokyo, owing to the quarantine station miscalculating the time difference, the health ministry said.

"This incident is really regrettable and shouldn't have happened," health minister Katsunobu Kato told a press briefing on the matter.

Under the quarantine measures, travelers are required to self-isolate for two weeks at their hotels or places of residence and are being asked not to use public transportation networks.

The health ministry said it is trying to confirm the health conditions of the passengers and crew members on the flight from Chicago.