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

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

Medical consultation for those with fevers

Call Center (Active Guard Dial)
Tel: 082-241-4566 (24H)

Will continue as the Medical Consultation and General Consultation Hotline for the foreseeable future
Tel: 082-241-4566 (24H)​

Consultations for those recovering at home

Health-related consultations (during the day): Your local ward health center (Japanese)
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

The following consultation office will be available for the foreseeable future:

Consultation Center for Those Recovering at Home (health consults and general consults)
Tel: 0570-000-510
Hours: 

• Health Consults: 24H
• General Consults: 8:30 am-6 pm

Other places to consult with (during the day): Consultation Center for Those Recovering at Home
Tel: 082-569-9233
Hours: 8:30 am-5:15 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)
Tel: 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
Tel: #7119 or 082-246-2000

This service will be continued

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 (Japanese)

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.

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

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

Epidemiological surveys

Carried out for registered patients

This service will be discontinued, except for epidemiological surveys for elderly care facilities (etc.)

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

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

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)