Japan to count COVID cases using method for seasonal flu

TOKYO, Jan 28 (NHK) - Japanese health authorities say they will start counting coronavirus infections using the same method they do for cases of seasonal influenza.

About 5,000 medical institutions nationwide disclose their data on the flu once a week.

An expert panel of the health ministry is set to convene next month to discuss implementing the same approach for the coronavirus.

The panel will also discuss how to pick the institutions that will report the cases.

Current measures stipulate that all cases of COVID-19 must be reported.

Starting May 8, the government will reclassify COVID-19 as a disease on par with the flu. ...continue reading