The government has announced new measures concerning outpatient care for people infected with the novel coronavirus, including allowing doctors to diagnose close contacts as infected without conducting a PCR test at a medical facility if the contact has a fever or other symptoms.
The measures will be taken in response to the rapid spread of the omicron variant. The government will also allow local governments to review outpatient care at their own discretion in the future.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Shigeyuki Goto told reporters on Monday: "The government's policy is based on the opinions of experts and others. It allows local governments to make their own decisions."
