Japan formally decided to downgrade the legal status of COVID-19 to the same category as common infectious diseases, such as seasonal flu, to ease prevention regulations, as reported by Kyodo News.
In a major policy change in its response to the pandemic, the Japanese government will be able to relax existing intensive measures against COVID-19, including limiting the movements of infected people and their close contacts.
The reclassification of COVID-19 to class 5 came after a group of Health Ministry experts agreed to the plan earlier in the day.
The impending downgrade would pave the way for the normalization of social and economic activities in Japan, possibly allowing non-residents to enter the country without PCR testing or quarantine.
In Japan, COVID-19 is currently designated as a special category equivalent to or stricter than Class 2, which covers infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, under the law.
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Japan in January 2020, after the virus was detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
Kishida said his administration plans to continue to bear medical costs, including its vaccination program, for the time being and will gradually review the ongoing medical service system.
Although Kishida, who took office in October 2021, has been in favor of revising the rules on the use of protective masks, he said that the use of masks, both indoors and outdoors, would be left up to individuals.
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There has never been a mandate on the use of masks in Japan, but for about three years it has become an everyday custom among citizens.
Since May 2022, the government has proposed removing masks in certain circumstances, but even during the harsh summer months of last year, many Japanese wore masks almost everywhere.
“We will take the necessary measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 so that we can return to normal life at home, school and work, and in all areas of the community,” Kishida stated.
The expected date to relax the COVID measures is May 8, the first business day after the end of Japan’s Golden Week holiday this year.
It is about 10 days before Japan hosts the G7 summit in Hiroshima for three days until May 21.
Kishida has set that date to avoid difficulties in hospitals in case the number of COVID-19 cases spikes again during the holiday season, when they are understaffed, according to government sources.
Japan has lagged behind other industrialized economies in easing COVID-19 restrictions amid lingering fears over rising infections.
Once COVID-19 moves to Class 5, the seven-day quarantine period for people infected with the virus and five days for those who have been in close contact with an infected patient will be abolished.
If the plans go ahead, COVID-19 patients will also receive medical treatment in ordinary hospitals instead of designated facilities, and the government will stop paying for hospitalization and care costs for infected people in the future.
In March, the Kishida administration will decide how much funding the government will provide for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and how long the funding will continue, according to the prime minister.
In the meantime, a state of emergency or quasi-state of emergency will not be declared, even if the number of infections rises again in the future.
