TOKYO: The Japanese government is considering expanding the scope of its free novel coronavirus testing scheme to all symptomless people in areas where community-acquired omicron cases are confirmed, government sources told Jiji Press Thursday.

Currently, the government offers free COVID-19 examinations across the country to people who cannot be vaccinated against the coronavirus due to health, age and other reasons.

In an overall picture of its coronavirus measures unveiled last month, the government had indicated that it would expand the scope of its free coronavirus testing program to asymptomatic people who are worried about being infected with the coronavirus, as a step to prevent the further spread of infections.

Japan’s first community-acquired cases of the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Wednesday.

As the omicron variant is feared to spread across the country, the government is set to expand the scope of its free testing scheme if requested by prefectural governments, the sources said.

JIJI Press