「２類相当」見直し検討　コロナ、感染症法の危険度―軽症者ら入院除外も・厚労省

　厚生労働省が、新型コロナウイルスの暫定的な感染症法上の位置付けについて、見直しを含めて検討することが２６日、同省などへの取材で分かった。危険度が指定感染症の５段階中２番目に高い「２類相当」とされているのを緩和する方向で検討するとみられる。
　２類は入院勧告や就業制限の対象だが、新型コロナは軽症者らの増加が医療機関や保健所の負担になっており、入院は高齢者や重症化リスクが高い人に限定する必要性が高いとの指摘がある。今後、厚労省の助言組織が現行の規制の課題などを議論し、政府の新型コロナ感染症対策分科会に報告する方針。（2020/08/26-16:17）

The Japanese health ministry will consider reviewing its tentative classification of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, made under the infectious disease law, it was learned Wednesday.
   COVID-19 is currently classified in Category II Infectious Diseases, the second highest on the five-notch scale on the level of danger of designated infectious diseases. The ministry is expected to consider lowering the classification for the coronavirus disease, informed sources said.
   People infected with Category II diseases are advised to be hospitalized and urged to stop attending work temporarily.
   With a recent increase in COVID-19 patients with light symptoms placing heavy burdens on medical institutions and public health centers, however, experts are stressing the need to limit hospitalization to elderly patients and those with the high risk of developing severe symptoms.
   An advisory panel for the health ministry plans to discuss related issues and report the results to the government's task force on measures against the new coronavirus.