According to Kyodo News Agency, the Japanese government officially announced that on May 8, it would reduce the classification level of COVID-19 infection to the level equivalent to seasonal influenza. Before that, the infectious disease group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, composed of experts, held a meeting in the morning of the same day and agreed to classify it as five categories. According to the report, Japan has now listed COVID-19 as a "new type of influenza and other infectious diseases" with more extensive measures than "Category 2" such as tuberculosis. At the panel meeting, discussions were held on the basis of the draft opinion, and general agreement was obtained. According to the draft opinion, the state in which private rights can be restricted according to the Infectious Diseases Law is "likely to have a significant impact on the life and health of citizens", which cannot be considered at present. In the future, we will strive to refer to the diagnosis and treatment system of influenza and build a medical system. The draft opinion points out that the public expense support for out-patient and out-patient expenses should be reduced in stages. In order to enable patients to see doctors in various medical institutions, it is necessary to implement the transition while taking the required infection countermeasures. The government plans to promote the change of the measures to be lowered to five categories in stages, and is discussing how to set a time limit for medical expenses and temporarily maintain a certain burden of public expenses. With regard to the wearing of masks, it is up to the individual to decide whether indoor or outdoor. However, according to Yamaguchi Najin, the leader of the Komeito Party, Hamada said that "he will pay attention to the situation and make a judgment near May 8". (Xinhua News Agency)