COVID-19: Downgrade to Class 5 Infectious Disease (as of May 8, 2023)

Xでポスト
フェイスブックでシェア
ラインでシェア

Article ID 1009897　

PrintPrint in large letters

Beginning on May 8, 2023, COVID-19 has been reclassified as a Class 5 Infectious Disease under the Infectious Disease Act. Below you will find information about what will change with the reclassification. Please note that the following information is subject to change in the future.

Changes to Medical Fees

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Medical fees for outpatient treatment Government support for outpatient treatment co-pay
  • Government support for COVID-19 treatment fees will continue until the end of September (measures beginning in October will be decided based on fairness to other illnesses, making use of government stock, and drug prices)
  • Other treatment fees will be paid by the patient under co-pay
Medical fees for hospitalization Government support for hospitalization co-pay
  • Co-pay amount for High-Cost Medical Expenses will be reduced by 20,000 yen for hospitalization fees for COVID-19 treatment until the end of September (if the amount is less than 20,000 yen, then it shall be reduced)
  • (Measures beginning in October will be decided based on the infection situation and fairness to other illnesses)
Testing fees Government support for testing fees for those with symptoms in the interest of determining patients and quarantining them
  • Government support for testing fees will end
  • However, for those who work (etc.) at medical institutions, as well as elderly care facilities (etc.), where there are many patients at risk of developing severe COVID living/staying, government support will continue for concentrated testing

Changes to Consultation Offices

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Medical consultation for those with fevers Call Center (Active Guard Dial)
Phone: 082-241-4566 (24H)		 Will continue as the Medical Consultation and General Consultation Hotline for the foreseeable future
Phone: 082-241-4566 (24H)
Consultations for those recovering at home
  • Health-related consultations (during the day): Please see the link below about your local ward health center.
    Hours: 8:30 am-6 pm
    Note: Those recovering at home are also given the contact information for the Hiroshima Prefecture Follow-up Center (available day and night) via SMS
  • Other places to consult with (during the day): Consultation Center for Those Recovering at Home
    Phone: 082-569-9233
    Hours: 8:30 am-5:15 pm
 The following consultation office will be available for the foreseeable future:
Consultation Center for Those Recovering at Home (health consults and general consults)
Phone: 0570-000-510
Hours:
  • Health Consults: 24H
  • General Consults: 8:30 am-6 pm
For those recovering at home with symptoms such as fever who would like to be seen at a medical institution
  1. Please consult with either your primary care physician or a medical institution where you were tested
  2. Consult with medical institutions offering medical visits over the phone or online
 These services will be continued
Those without symptoms who would like to be tested PCR Centers (appointments necessary; run by the prefectural government)
Phone: 050-1741-6373		 This service will be discontinued
Those who tested positive with antigen test kits Hiroshima Prefecture COVID-19 Registration Center (run by the prefectural government) This service will be discontinued
For those who aren't sure whether they should call an ambulance Hiroshima Regional Urban Area Emergency Consultation Center
Phone: #7119 or 082-246-2000		 This service will be continued

Changes to Procedure for Those Recovering at Home

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Recovery period Formal request to refrain from going out for a set period of time based on the Infectious Disease Act Formal request to avoid going out has ended; actions will be up to personal judgement.
  • The risk of infecting others is highest for the first five days after symptoms appear (it is possible to infect others during a period of 7-10 days beginning two days prior to symptoms appearing).
  • It is recommended that you avoid going out until five days have passed since symptoms appeared AND it has been 24 hours since symptoms have lessened. It is also recommended that you wear a mask for 10 days afterward and avoid coming in contact with those at risk for severe COVID-19 during that time.
  • Procedure when recovering from COVID-19
Close contacts Those designated as close contacts formally requested to avoid going out for a set period of time
  • Close contacts will no longer be designated. In addition, close contacts will not be legally requested to avoid going out.
  • If members of your family or others you live with contract COVID-19, put them in a separate room if possible and limit the number of people who care for the infected person.

Changes to the Support System for Those Recovering at Home

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Health tracking and management Carried out by the Hiroshima Prefecture Follow-up Center or local health center for registered patients This service will be discontinued
Home recovery sets Provided for those who request them This service will be discontinued
Pulse oximeters Lent to those for which they are deemed necessary via health tracking and management This service will be discontinued
Online medical center Established by the prefectural government as a temporary medical institution to help reduce the strain on the medical system This service will be discontinued
Patient transport Patient transport from their homes to medical institutions This service will be discontinued

Changes to Services Provided by Medical Institutions

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Arranging hospitalization Carried out via cooperative between the Prefectural Medical Coordination Headquarters and health centers As a rule, arrangements will be made between medical institutions (will be done in stages)
Recovery at lodgings (hotel quarantine) Established by the prefecture as a patient quarantine facility This service will be discontinued

Changes to Epidemiological Surveys

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Epidemiological surveys Carried out for registered patients This service will be discontinued, except for epidemiological surveys for elderly care facilities (etc.)

Changes to Recovery at Home/Lodgings Certificates

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Home/Lodgings Certificates The necessary certificate is issued after the end of recovery This service is planned to be continued until the end of June; more details as they are decided

Changes to Care for Long COVID

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Consultations at medical institutions for Long COVID Medical institutions that provide care for long-term side effects This service will continue for the foreseeable future

Changes to Policy for Those Who Test Positive With Antigen Testing Kits

Item Before Reclassification to Class 5 (until May 7, 2023) After Reclassification to Class 5 (from May 8, 2023)
Those who test positive with antigen testing kits, but don't know who to contact Contact the Hiroshima Prefecture COVID-19 Registration Center (run by the prefectural government) This service will be discontinued (please consult with your primary care physician)

Reference Materials (Japanese)

PDFファイルをご覧いただくには、「Adobe（R） Reader（R）」が必要です。お持ちでない方はアドビシステムズ社のサイト（新しいウィンドウ）からダウンロード（無料）してください。