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© KYODOGov't to discuss downgrading COVID-19 classification to same as influenza
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© KYODO
70 Comments
Elvis is here
eh... you have a very short and selective memory.
They could also drop mask restrictions, too. Lots of possibilities flying around.
Gazman
Looks like the main driving force is to get everyone to pay for vaccines/treatment themselves rather than the government foot the bill.
Gorramcowboy
About time. Welcome to the rest of the world.
kurisupisu
Whatever happens is sure to happen at a glacial pace as per usual
Yubaru
THIS is the biggest reason! All the other "reasons" being given are just sugar coating the fact that the government can not continue to afford giving free testing and injections.
Just like the flu shot, which is not covered by insurance, the covid shots will eventually, sooner than later it seems, be up to the individual, and at roughly ¥10,000 per shot, it is highly unlikely that there will be a lot of people getting it.
By comparison, depending upon the location, a flu shot runs between ¥1,000 to ¥2,000.
Hello Kitty 321
Also in todays news, Moderns wants to quadruple the price of its shots, any connection?
ian
Yes, but let's see when it's already downgraded
ian
Be careful what you wish for
tora
Yeah yesterday I was saying. And on the news this morning they were saying: the government planning to drop the virus level to level 5 (same as the flu) and to discuss, "the possibility of removing the urge to wear a mask indoors." (My translation from memory). This implies there may be a chance the put it at level 5 but keep the "mask wearing urge".
Well I have already no longer been following the "urge" for some time now and let me tell you it's not a scary world out there.
We one thing did change: when going out or eat somewhere, I just walk straight into the restaurant and sit down and order and eat. I don't put a mask on, walk in, sit down, order, remove it, then eat.
And my alcohol comes from the drinks, not that sanitizer at the door. Never used it, never will. Same with temperature checks.
It was complete idiocy and flawed logic from the start.
ian
The mask is for the others around you, so no need to be scared if you're not wearing one
ian
Yep that's complete idiocy and flawed logic
theResident
@Bronco. Your comment has rather lost me!
Yubaru
Probably part of the reason, yet these companies have to realize that once the governments around the world stop paying for the vaccinations, they are just shooting themselves in the foot by raising prices.
Not to mention, here in Japan, with the domestic pharmaceuticals continuing to develop vaccinations themselves, there will be fewer people who will be able to actually afford the shots, so there will be limited opportunities for them to recoup their investments into the research.
I am willing to bet that the drug companies here, that are still developing and researching vaccines are 100% against this downgrade and will push to see it extended for as long as they can!
ian
He may be referring to the immigration testing requirement.
People who mostly don't travel abroad apparently took the vaccine because of it
tora
Also planning to give them away at cost to Africa where Covid was never an issue for most of the continent. Or at least Pfizer is. Planning to dump stock?
ian
The knowhow gained and tech developed could be applied to vaccines for other diseases and other applications most probably
Yubaru
I personally know the head of surgery at a large medical group who told me LAST year in April that this is the eventual goal of the government.
ian
ian
Same reason other govts did it
Stig
Finally common sense prevails?
TrevorPeace
Long overdue.
No more numbers, please.
Tiger
Stop talking and get on with it man!
Gobshite
Government will discuss having a discussion about whether to / when to have future discussions.
Do they ever actually DO anything? It's flu, has been for ages, get on with life
dan
Get over it already!!
Zizi
So let's get this straight - for god knows how long, Japan closed its borders to foreigners due to Coronavirus in some xenophobic, self important tirade. It couldn't possibly be Japan's fault that the virus spread within its own country.
Now that Coronavirus has rampaged through Japan with world high numbers and infection rates, causing deep shame to the Japanese government who were no longer able to blame foreigners AND the fact that the government is unable to control said numbers, the virus will be downgraded in severity?
Oh dear Japan. Was there ever any point in your awful handling of this virus.
Supporters will bang on about how their life hardly changed in Japan, we didn't have lockdowns, etc. Try telling that to the thousands who couldn't visit family and were stigmatised by the Japanese.
noriahojanen
Don't forget the vaxx/PCR programme has NEVER been free. It's financed by our tax money. But prices won't skyrocket as the national healthcare insurance will cover some expenses, just like the case of common flu.
The downgraded arrangement will allow (a large majority of) ordinary clinics to take care of corona outpatients on the spot, without reporting to authorities. This will reduce the (unnecessarily) overwhelming tasks and processes in the frontline.
Sheikh Yerboaby
It's about blood y time!!
Can we also dispense of the virtue signalling mask encouragement?? The UK, where no one wears a mask has a 7 day average of infections around 3-4000, whereas Japan with their magic masks still firmly planted on peoples faces has a 7 day average of 120-odd thousand....these masks are a total waste of time. They played a "finger in the dyke" role when we had ZERO medical protections, but now we have effective vaccines they are about as useful and relevant as blood letting.
mimi
They love their masks .Won't be surprised if they continue wearing them till 2040
Sheikh Yerboaby
No one around the world was able to visit family members....I was much happier than my family, whom I couldn't visit, who were stuck inside unable to even sit in the same room as family members who lived around the corner. Stigmatised?! I think you are projecting your own fears and prejudices there....I never felt stigmatised...I don't know anyone who complained of all the locals looking at them with disgust. Other than Japan's convoluted and slow way of making decisions, I am delighted for the most part the way it was handled here......stupid mask wearing notwithstanding. So yeah it sucked especially if you lost a family member and couldn't get home to see them or grieve for them properly, but it was better than the conditions at home.
Sanjinosebleed
Hurry the hell up!
It is just the flu now!
El Rata
Same as influenza? It should be downgraded below the sniffles.
Yubaru
And what information do you have for this statement? The corona virus vaccination is supposedly going to cost roughly ¥10,000 per person. Taking your supposition into account, that means the actual shot is far more expensive, but in reality it's not!
Flu shots are NOT required, their are elective vaccinations and one who gets the shot, has to pay on their own, no insurance is required, and insurance is not used to get the shot!
Yubaru
Japanese will never fully get rid of wearing masks. As a country/people in general, Japanese have been wearing masks since well before covid and will continue to do so long after as well.
ian
One of the first things I noticed and liked about Japan when I first came here, when they get colds or cough most mask up
ian
Probably the reason Japan was not as affected at the start, when the virus was more virulent but less infectious
Algernon LaCroix
They can and will "discuss" things until the cows come home. In the meantime, both the world and the virus will leave Japan in the dust.
Stig
I think the only numbers they should share are of those of the seriously ill, as in hospitalized and those dying. But those dying due to Covid, not dying with Covid.
Eastman
japanese plebs waiting evening Fumios annoucement at NHK so some part of it can take off face mask very next day.
reaction as expected from manipulated herd.
450+deaths a day as "new influenza jp norm".
Stig
@Eastman
TOB. 450 deaths from Covid or 450 deaths with Covid is the question.
Yrral
WHO, classified it as Conavirus ID Year 19
Rodney
It’s the same, so what’s the fuss? Ohhhhh
in context…
I need a vaccine passport to travel from which companies?
ian
Now that the cost of treatment will shift to the infected the govt will have more money to buy arms and dispose of nuclear wastes.
Downgrade is not needed to relax covid restrictions but it's needed to withdraw treatment support for covid
Stephen
Follow the money as usual. China is downgrading, so is Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea etc. Nobody wants to become a basket case economy like Sri Lanka. Japan will be left in the dust if it scares away foreign tourists or continues to spread fear within its own borders. Time to downgrade, unmask and get on with life.
shogun36
Are we suppose to know the different class levels of diseases?
What's an example of a class 1? Full blown AIDS?
Is a runny nose a class 10?
mimi
They love their masks. Won't be surprised if we keep wearing them till 2040.
Nibek32
And the headline right under this article:
Ambulance workers struggle to find hospitals to admit patients for 4th consecutive week
As much as I want to be done with it, it’s still not the same as influenza.
ian
Well I'd be surprised
Steven Mccarthy
i would agree if Covid were on the same level as seasonal influenza….. but it’s not . Covid is by far and away more deadly than anything in any living person’s lifetime.!. They prematurely opened the borders … net results … cases exploded… death rates soaring …. Healthcare system collapsed…. No Dr or nurse agrees with this terrible idea . The jgov is going completely the wrong direction . It’s time for some real restrictions to be put in place .
El Rata
And that's precisely why they should downgrade it! Hospitals and clinics don't turn COVID patients due to fear of the virus. They turn them away because it's a major hassle to deal with the paperwork and other government mandated restrictions. I'm friends with the doctor-owner of a rather large clinic and he couldn't care less about corona, he told me his clinic turn patients away because what I just mentioned. If it gets downgraded you can just go like if it was influenza and that's it, no need for the unnecessary circus.
Nibek32
@el rata
I think you are missing the whole ambulance and being admitted to a hospital. This is obviously people that are having more severe cases, which clinics are not equipped to support.
We’re not talking about people with mild cases. Downgrading it will not decrease people with severe Covid that need to be hospitalized. This is why it is different than influenza; it leads to more severe illness and death compared to influenza.
I know this doesn’t fit everyone’s narrative.
El Rata
Most people being refused are people with other ailments and happen to be infected with the virus rather than people sick with corona only. And yet again, if the rona gets downgraded even the 'severe covid cases' will have no problem being admitted. I was told by this guy that he knows of clinics, that lie about capabilities, available resources and so on just so they don't have to deal with the hassle of a Covid positive patient. Not everything that's officially reported is actually true.
Yubaru
It's really not hard to figure out. (FYI AIDS Doesnt even come close to Class 1)
Class 1 Small Pox, Hemorrhagic Fevers, Plague, and 3 more
Class 2 Has 7
Class 3 Has 5
Class 4 Has 44
日本の感染症法の分類
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/05-Shingikai-10601000-Daijinkanboukouseikagakuka-Kouseikagakuka/0000040509.pdf
Fredrik
Classify it as you wish, COVID is nothing like the influenza. I don't know where the propaganda comes from, but ask anyone who had it for real (and I don't mean asymptotic carriers).
Stephen Chin
During the last three years I have, all through the last three years, thought that influenza is Covid is influenza. I was invited to vaccination parties and, refused them all. Next week I am invited by my numerous great grand children to my ninety third birthday party.
Stephen
With respect to the health authorities, they shouldn’t be the main influencers of government policy anymore. In the U.K, If they’d been left in control of policy (with their ridiculous modelling), the country would still be in lockdown. The Japanese government should take note of their findings and balance them against other (arguably more important) considerations.
Nibek32
@el rata
They are being refused because the hospitals are full and do not have beds to take on severely sick patients. BECAUSE the hospitals are maxed out from so many severely I’ll Covid patients added to the usual impatient cases. Obviously people with underlying health conditions have a higher risk when they catch Covid. That is common sense. Doesn’t change the fact that people are getting severely sick from Covid and straining the hospitals. Downgrading it does nothing to help this. The virus doesn’t follow government classifications.
Yeah, I think you may want to dig a little deeper than hearsay.
El Rata
Yeah nothing at all like the flu, I got the Delta strain unvaccinated and all. I was playing games, going for drives and drinking warm sake, tequila and light beer most of the time. The flu on the other hand back in 2014 knocked me down for like a week and still felt felt week and with malaise for like another two after recovery. Definitely not the same,
Stephen
@Hakman - Cheers - I’ll take you up on that offer of a beer one of these days. No worries, there won’t be a mask in sight!
Temyong
Because they have become the same - the common flu was rebranded as Covid to add to the statistics to continue the fear factor narrative.
Lord Dartmouth
The masks didn't work; the vaccines didn't work; the boosters didn't work; banning foreigners from Japan didn't work. Had Covid a few weeks ago - just a light flu. What on earth has all the madness been for?
ian
Downgrading likely will do the opposite, as it will remove almost all actions prescribed under the infectious disease law.
Even reporting cases will change from immediate to within 7 days.
But the govt will not be required anymore to pay for patients treatments so they will save a lot.
Must be quite some savings on vax and tests alone
ian
Lots of people saying they ve had it but not really tested. Have you been tested? Better make sure