The government is expected to relax mask-wearing guidelines when the classification of COVID-19 is downgraded to Category V in spring.
Wearing masks outdoors is not required under existing rules, in principle. However, the government recommends wearing masks indoors unless social distancing is practiced or people are not conversing with others.
"We will discuss the possibility of narrowing down the kinds of situations in which mask-wearing will be required," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference on Friday.
