新型コロナ「５類」正式決定　予定通り来月８日移行―入院８４００カ所で対応・厚労相

　加藤勝信厚生労働相は２７日、新型コロナウイルスの感染症法上の位置付けを、５月８日に季節性インフルエンザなどと同じ「５類」へ移行すると正式に決定した。緊急事態宣言などの行動制限ができなくなる一方、患者の受け入れ体制を整備して感染の再拡大に備える。
　厚労省によると、入院患者は全国約８４００カ所の医療機関で対応し、最大約５万８０００人が受け入れ可能となるよう９月末までに体制を整備する。外来は移行時点で約４万４０００カ所で対応可能といい、将来的には約６万４０００カ所への拡大を目指す。
　加藤厚労相は記者会見で、ウイルスの現状について「公衆衛生上のリスク増加につながる懸念はない」と強調。「（コロナ対策は）新たな段階に入るが、今後も国民の理解や協力をいただきながら必要な対応をしていきたい」と述べた。（2023/04/27-18:21）

Japanese health minister Katsunobu Kato on Thursday formally decided to downgrade the classification of COVID-19 under the infectious disease law to Category V, the same as for seasonal flu, as planned on May 8.
   The minister made the decision after a health ministry panel at its meeting the same day said no special circumstances that may change the underlying scientific assumptions, such as the emergence of a strain with a high rate of causing severe symptoms, have been confirmed.
   Also on Thursday, the health ministry announced a plan about the country's health care system after the classification change. The plan calls on some 8,400 medical institutions to have the combined capacity of accepting up to a total of 58,000 COVID-19 inpatients by the end of September.
   Regarding the current state of the novel coronavirus, Kato said in a press conference that comparisons with omicron subvariants indicate there is no need to worry about an increase in public health risks.
   "While we'll be entering a new phase (regarding COVID-19 measures), we want to continue to take necessary steps by obtaining people's understanding and cooperation," the minister added.