AMPONTOONS.COM correspondent reports, Richard Susilo from Japan
AMPONTOONS.COM, TOKYO – As of today Monday (8/5/2023) the corona virus status in Japan has entered category 5. This means that the Covid-19 disease in Japan is classified as the common cold.
However, vaccination against Covid-19 is still done free of charge for the community.
“As of May 8, 2023, the novel coronavirus status under the Infectious Diseases Act will move to the same “category 5” as seasonal flu, the source said. AMPONTOONS.COM, Monday (8/5/2023).
Therefore there will be no policy prohibiting the public from leaving the house and infection control measures will be left to individual judgement.
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“Vaccinations remain free this year, that’s what we will do,” he added.
Regarding the position of the coronavirus under the Communicable Diseases Act, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has activated itself as a “class 2 equivalent” which can take strict measures such as asking not to leave and recommending hospitalization in past.
But as of May 8, 2023, it is the same as seasonal flu moving to category or level 5 in Japan.
After the transition, the government will no longer be able to require movement restrictions as it has hitherto and infection control measures will be left to individual judgement.
“We also aim for the system that accepts patients in various medical institutions, with the system that accepts patients in limited medical institutions as before, to be revised at the expense of the community. Previously, the fee was still free. However, for elementary i school children is still free,” he explained.
Later, the understanding of the epidemic situation will be changed to a “fixed-point understanding” that will report to the designated medical institution once a week.
On the other hand, as the epidemic is expected to repeat itself in the future, free vaccination will continue this year.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has launched an appeal to people who feel infected not to go out for 5 days as a guideline for the recovery period.
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The government task force and infection control “basic response policy” will be abolished in line with the transition to corona “level 5” and the country’s containment of the corona virus, which has been going on for more than three years , will reach an important milestone.
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