Japan's health ministry is considering proposing five days as the revised period of self-isolation for patients with coronavirus symptoms, from early May.

Under Japan's anti-infectious diseases law, health authorities currently require such patients to recuperate at home for seven days after they develop symptoms, and ask them to refrain from outings. After the seven day-period, the present rule allows those who show little or no symptoms for more than 24 hours to go out.

The health ministry has considered shortening the isolation period after the government decided to reclassify COVID-19 to the level of category five, the same as the seasonal flu, from May 8. After that day, there will be no legal grounds to ask COVID patients not to go out and the length of self-isolation will be at the discretion of patients.

The idea of a five-day period is based on medical analysis showing that viral loads in patients tend to drop sharply five days after the onset of symptoms. The ministry also referred to cases and practices overseas.

Health officials are planning to ask patients to wear facial masks for a certain period after their recuperation.

The health ministry is going to publicize its policy sometime soon on its website and other means.