TOKYO: Japan plans to set up new Covid-19 testing centres outside three major airports in Osaka and here, as well as in central parts of the cities.
The move comes as the country prepares to ease its travel restrictions.
The facilities are mainly intended to test people entering the nation and they could be constructed as early as this summer.
Kyodo News reported that the government had yet to decide whether to use them for Japanese nationals, who may require evidence they are free of the virus to travel outside the country.
The country's airport quarantine stations conduct about 1,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests per day, with results confirmed within one or two days.
The planned facilities will increase the number of PCR tests that can be performed daily to over 4,000, with health authorities also hoping to reduce virus testing times to a few hours by using new methods.
The new testing centres are expected to provide testing for travellers leaving the country, and the government is considering issuing certificates for those who test negative.
Since February, Japan has been increasing travel restrictions for inbound visitors as part of its measures to curb Covid-19.
On Monday, another 18 countries including Algeria, Cuba and Iraq, were added to the nation's entry ban list, raising the total number of countries and regions subject to the measure to 129.
However, Japan is in talks with several countries to mutually ease travel restrictions for businessmen.
Those countries include Australia and Thailand.