Japan will reduce COVID-19 to flu status and relax rules even further.

COVID-19 is currently classified as a Class 2 disease in Japan, alongside SARS and tuberculosis, and is subject to restrictions on patient and close contact movement while permitting central and local governments to take emergency measures. Downgrading it to Class 5 would result in the abolition of such rules. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans on Friday to downgrade COVID-19's legal status to that of seasonal influenza ....