コロナの位置付け見直し検討　「２類相当」から引き下げ―岸田首相

　岸田文雄首相は３１日、新型コロナウイルスの感染症法上の位置付けについて見直しを検討していることを明らかにした。現在は結核などと同等の２番目に厳格な対処が求められる「２類相当」とされているが、これを引き下げる方向だ。首相公邸で記者団に「変異の可能性などもしっかり判断し、２類として規定される項目について丁寧に検討していく」と語った。
　見直しの時期については、「今、感染が拡大している。このタイミングで変更することは考えていない」と説明。現在の「第７波」収束後になるとの認識を示した。（2022/07/31-20:49）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday that his government is reviewing the classification of COVID-19 under the infectious disease law.
   The government is considering lowering the status of COVID-19, currently classified into Category II, the second-highest on the five-stage scale of seriousness of infectious diseases, sources familiar with the matter said.
   Once the classification is lowered, less stringent response will become possible over the disease. The government may consider the possibility of ceasing to count all COVID-19 cases.
   Kishida told reporters that the government will consider the classification of COVID-19 carefully. He indicated that any change in the classification will come once the current seventh wave of infections calms down, saying: "Infections are spreading now. There will be no change at this timing."
   Costs for examining Category II infectious diseases are completely covered by public funds. All cases need to be reported. Hospitals allowed to examine patients are limited in number, causing strain in the medical care system.