Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered Friday to downgrade and reclassify COVID-19 as seasonal flu. The measure will officially be implemented in spring.
The highly anticipated and awaited move will bring COVID-19 to rank in category five, which means that state of emergency declarations will not be required anymore.
In addition, those who become positive or come into contact with infected people will also no longer have to remain in quarantine. Government funding of medical expenses will be gradually phased out, and the administration is also considering lifting its recommendation to use face masks indoors.