A subcommittee of experts from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to discuss whether the position of the new corona under the Infectious Diseases Act should be shifted to ``Type 5'' this spring, and many experts agreed.


The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will compile opinions at a subcommittee meeting to be held on the 27th of this month, and is expected to decide on the timing of the transition as early as this month.

In principle, the government plans to shift the position of the new corona under the Infectious Diseases Act to the same ``5 category'' as seasonal influenza, etc., in the spring, and in response to this, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on the 23rd that experts will report infectious diseases. We opened a subcommittee.



Among them, regarding the transition to "type 5",


there was an opinion that a new classification should be created in light of the situation where epidemics regularly cause medical strains, but the


rate of aggravation has decreased. A majority of the respondents agreed that it was not appropriate to continue taking strict measures under the law.



Afterwards, discussions will be held on the issues associated with the transition, and among these, regarding the burden of public expenditure for medical expenses,


▽ If part of the expenses such as examinations and hospitalization are to be borne by the patient due to the transition to "Category 5", they will refrain from seeing a doctor. Since there is concern that the number of cases will increase, there were many opinions that it should be reviewed in stages.



In addition, regarding the medical system, after the transition to “Category 5”, it will be possible to be hospitalized and examined at general medical institutions


. There

were opinions that


the government should continue to coordinate hospitalization and secure beds so that severely ill people can not be hospitalized.



The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will gather opinions at the Infectious Diseases Subcommittee on the 27th of this month and proceed with discussions on individual issues.


We also expect to make a decision as early as this month regarding the timing of the transition.