Japan to lower coronavirus classification to flu level in May

The Prime Minister of JapanFumio Kishida, announced this Friday the decision of the Japanese Government to equate the classification of the coronavirus to the same as the flu as of May 8, thus reducing the containment measures against the disease.

“After a meeting with the Ministry of Health, we are going to lower the classification of the coronavirus as of May 8, since we need about three months for the procedures”Kishida told the media today after a meeting of his Cabinet.

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Until now, the coronavirus It is part of the “group 2” of diseases, which allows the authorities to take strict measures and movement restrictions to help reduce cases, while “group 5” equates the disease with other seasonal ones such as the flu.

The prime minister also said that the current quarantine system for positive cases and close contacts would be reviewed, as well as financial assistance, the recommendation to wear masks indoors or future vaccination schedules.

Until now, only some medical institutions, such as those designated for infectious diseases, could accept hospitalizations and provide care for patients with coronavirusbut after the transition to “group 5″, a greater number of centers will be able to do so.

Until now, medical expenses for hospitalization and tests are covered by public money, but after the transition, the patient may have to bear part of the cost.

The government also asks those who visit Japan that they present a vaccination certificate, something that could also change with the new regulations, although the Japanese Executive has not provided further details in this regard.

The Japanese authorities currently advise the population to use a mask in closed spaces, as well as outdoors only when a minimum interpersonal safety distance cannot be maintained.

In Japanmasks have never been mandatory, although since the start of the pandemic most citizens have been using them both indoors and outdoors.

“We are going to move forward to recover normality and carry it out safely”Kishida stated.

The Asian country, with 125 million inhabitants, has a total of 32.3 million infections since the start of the pandemic and just over 66,000 deaths from the virus, and has been registering between 106,000 and 70,000 new cases per day in the last week .

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.