On Nov. 29th, Japan will consider reclassifying COVID 19 into a less severe infectious disease category, such as the one for seasonal flu, health minister Katsunobu Kato said.
COVID 19 is currently classified as an infectious disease, such as novel influenza, under the Infectious Disease Law, putting it in category 2 or higher.
Diseases at this severe level include tuberculosis. The public can be urged to take precautions in order to prevent the spread of such diseases.
According to Kato, the government could lower COVID 19 status to Category 5, as well as lower COVID 19 status.
If that happens, government authorities would drop their requests to the public to refrain from going out. Restrictions related to work and business operations will no longer apply.
Kato said at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting that they would like to proceed with discussions comprehensively and immediately, based on the latest evidence.
The Upper House is expected to pass a bill to revise the Infectious Disease Law.
When the bill was passed by the Lower House, an additional clause was amended to include wording asking the government to immediately review the COVID category.
On a Nov. 27 television program, Kato stated that such a review would happen.
He said that we will make a decision while considering the severity, infectivity and mutation of the novel coronaviruses.