Japan's health ministry is considering easing guidelines on when to consult authorities over suspected infection with the novel coronavirus, officials said Wednesday.

The new guidelines will recommend immediate consultations to those feeling strong fatigue, shortness of breath or high fever without indicating the level of body temperatures that should be exceeded.

The revised guidelines will be released as early as this week.
Under the government-set guidelines, those suspecting COVID-19 infection call special consultation centers set up at local public health offices. They will be allowed to take polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests if doctors find such tests necessary.

The current guidelines, released in February, stipulate that those suspecting infection call the centers if they are running a fever of at least 37.5 degrees Celsius for four straight days or suffering symptoms including strong fatigue and shortness of breath.

Elderly people and those with preexisting conditions should seek consultations if fevers and other symptoms continue for two days, according to the guidelines.

Critics say that the strict criteria have discouraged many from calling the consultation centers while some centers refuse to provide consultations to those who have not fully met the criteria.

The current guidelines were worked out during the influenza season. At that time, it was important to tell coronavirus symptoms from flu symptoms, officials said.

"We'll bring the guidelines into line with the current situation, based mainly on opinions of experts," health minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters, referring to cases that fall into serious conditions rapidly.

The new guidelines are expected to recommend immediate consultations to those feeling strong fatigue, shortness of breath or high fever, or suffering relatively mild symptoms of cold at least for four days.

Elderly people and those with preexisting conditions should consult immediately if they develop relatively mild symptoms of cold, such as fever and coughing, the new guidelines will say.

JIJI Press