NHK has learned that Japan's government is considering advising senior citizens and other high-risk people to wear masks when they visit crowded places during a coronavirus outbreak.

The advice will be part of the health ministry's basic stance on mask use after COVID-19's planned downgrade to the same status as seasonal flu on May 8.

The government now recommends mask use indoors, but it plans to counsel people to make their own decisions on whether to wear them after the reclassification.

The ministry also plans to recommend people wear masks when they visit medical institutions or nursing care homes so they won't transmit the viruses to others in case they are infected.

As to whether infected people should wear masks when going out, the ministry is likely to listen to experts and cautiously consider the matter.