The Japanese government is planning to downgrade COVID-19 on May 8 to the same category of infectious diseases as seasonal influenza.

The plan comes after Prime Minister Kishida Fumio last week instructed health minister Kato Katsunobu to consider reclassifying the disease to category five, the same grouping as the flu, in principle, this coming spring.

COVID-19 is currently classified as the equivalent to category two, the second-most severe tier on Japan's infectious disease classification system. The level allows authorities to take strict measures, including restrictions on people's movements to prevent the spread of the disease.

On Thursday, Kishida met Kato and others and decided on the planned date. May 8 is after the long holidays from late April through early May in Japan. They say local governments and medical institutions need enough time to prepare.

The government will make the final decision on the timing of the reclassification on Friday at a meeting of its coronavirus task force.