Photo/Illutration Many commuters wear masks at JR Shinagawa Station in Tokyo on the morning of March 13. (Hiroyuki Yamamoto)

Health minister Katsunobu Kato gave the green light on April 27 to reclassifying COVID-19 into the same category as the seasonal flu starting on May 8 after a panel of experts gave its blessing. 

The health ministry proposed the change as scheduled at a meeting with the panel advising the ministry on tackling COVID-19.

It said that there are no signs of an increase in the severity of mutant strains and that “there is no evidence that (those strains) will increase risk to public health at this moment.”

The ministry added that new cases remain below the level before an infection wave surfaced last summer. It explained that hospital bed occupancy rates are also at a low level.

On Jan. 27, the government task force decided to downgrade COVID-19 to a less-severe Category 5 on the five-tier severity system under the infection diseases prevention law starting on May 8 unless there are “special circumstances” such as the emergence of a new mutation.

The government planned to make the final decision after hearing opinions from experts just prior to May 8.

The health ministry proposed proceeding with the schedule and experts did not oppose the downgrading.

After the change, hospitalization will no longer be recommended under the law. Patients and those who had been in close contact with infected patients will not be asked to refrain from going out.

The government will still recommend those infected with the novel coronavirus to stay home for five days, counting from the day following the onset of symptoms. But it will leave the decision to the individual.

Medical expenses for COVID-19 will no longer be fully covered by public funds. Patients will have to pay for their own tests, and outpatients will have to pay as much for treatment as for the seasonal flu.

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