Japan PM Kishida vows to downgrade COVID-19 categorization in spring

In Japan, COVID-19 is currently categorized as Class 2, the same status as tuberculosis and severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, and is subject to extensive measures, such as limitations on the movements of infected people and their close contacts.

The possible downgrade would mark a big turning point toward the normalization of social and economic activities in the country, and would probably result in foreigners being able to enter Japan without PCR tests or quarantine.

After instructing relevant ministers to promote preparations for the reclassification in the spring, Kishida told reporters that his administration will also review the rules on the wearing of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Kishida said the government will «gradually» change the measures in place to deal with the pandemic so Japan can return to normal, indicating that medical and financial support covered by taxpayers' money could be trimmed.

But the prime minister added the government would continue its vaccination program even after downgrading the disease's categorization.

Following Kishida's announcement, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki told a news conference that his ministry would consider reallocating public funds to health care.

Kishida did not provide an exact date for the lowering of the classification, saying only that the government intends to determine the timing «as soon as possible.» It is expected to decide on the schedule after consulting with health ministry experts.

By downgrading the legal status to Class 5 under the infectious disease law, the quarantine period of seven days for people infected with the virus and of five days for people who have been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient would be scrapped.

The government would also stop paying the medical costs for treating and hospitalizing infectious patients.

COVID-19 patients would then be able to receive medical treatment in ordinary hospitals rather than the currently designated medical facilities.

If COVID-19 is downgraded, the Kishida administration would only receive data on cases from designated medical facilities, as with seasonal influenza, to grasp the infection trend.

Even if the number of infections spikes again in the future, no control measures, including state of emergency declarations, would be imposed.

With the country witnessing its eighth wave of infections, the daily tally of cases has remained high, occasionally topping 200,000, with record daily deaths reported.

The government, however, is leaning toward downgrading the status of COVID-19 as the disease has become less deadly due partly to the vaccination program, with calls growing to invigorate the economy hit hard by the virus outbreak.

Some medical experts are concerned that the envisioned reclassification could encourage people to become less vigilant and increase the numbers of cases and deaths, as the transmissibility of the virus is unlikely to decline.

In step with the planned downgrade, the Japanese government may drop its recommendation for the wearing of face masks indoors. It already suggests that people not wear face masks outdoors, but the majority in Japan continue to do so.

An expert panel under the health ministry urged the administration last week to take a «gradual» approach to a downgrading of COVID-19, while maintaining coronavirus measures to ensure adequate medical care.

Photo: english.kyodonews.net