The headquarters of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, is seen on the left in this Nov. 11, 2020, file photo taken in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. (Mainichi/Akira Okubo)

       TOKYO -- As Japan enters full-scale school entrance exam season, the education ministry has decided to allow test-takers who have had close contact with COVID-19 patients to take taxis to exam venues under certain conditions.

       The decision was communicated to boards of education and universities across Japan on Jan. 7. The ministry decided on Dec. 28, 2021, to allow people who have come into close contact with those infected with the virus including its omicron variant to sit their high school or university entrance exams in different rooms than the other examinees. However, they can only sit the tests if they have no symptoms and a negative PCR test.

       The ministry also previously barred these test-takers from taking public transportation to exam venues, including taxis. However, as some test-takers may not have access to a private car or other means to get to testing sites, the ministry decided to allow them to travel by taxi, private hire car and water taxis. But, they are required to take infection control measures and state clearly to the vehicle operator that they've had close contact with a coronavirus patient when they make a reservation, among other conditions.

       The ministry has also set up a consultation counter for people who cannot find a taxi company on their own. If an examinee requests help, staff will refer them to a local district transport bureau to find a company that can take them to their test venue.

       (Japanese original by Akira Okubo, Tokyo City News Department)

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