China News Service, January 16, according to Kyodo News Agency of Japan, regarding the new crown epidemic prevention countermeasures that recommend wearing masks indoors, the Japanese government is discussing a plan that in principle does not need to be worn except for people with symptoms.
According to reports, the Japanese government mentioned the above-mentioned adjustment plan in discussions related to changing the positioning of the new crown in the "Infectious Diseases Law" to the same "category 5" as seasonal influenza.
It has been three years since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection in Japan on January 15, and the anti-epidemic measures in daily life may undergo major changes.
The Japanese government revised the "Basic Response Policy" in May 2022.
Regarding the mask, it is stipulated that if you do not speak outdoors, you do not need to wear it in principle, and it is recommended to wear it indoors except to ensure the distance and basically do not speak.
According to a government source, if the new crown is classified as a category 5 in the "Infectious Diseases Act", the epidemic prevention measures will also be changed to the same level as other infectious diseases of the category 5. In principle, indoors without wearing a mask is being considered. Program.
Combined with the opinions of experts, the new crown will be changed to category 5 as soon as this spring, and it may be stipulated that there is no need to wear masks.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made a judgment on whether it is necessary to wear a mask based on the number of hospitalizations in various places. At one time, all states no longer had to wear masks.
However, there has been a "triple epidemic" in which the new crown, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RS virus), which causes respiratory diseases, are prevalent at the same time, and some areas once again recommend wearing masks indoors.