Japanese leader promises further measures against Omicron variant

Fumio Kishida, centre, visits Ise Shrine in Ise in central Japan (Kyodo news via AP)

Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida has vowed to speed up coronavirus vaccine booster jabs, secure imported supplies of drugs to treat Covid-19 and reorganise medical facilities to respond to the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

Mr Kishida, who took office in October, said he had ordered strict border controls from November to buy time for such preparations.