The ministry says the government will no longer make blanket requests after May 8 when it reclassifies the virus as category five, the lowest level and the same as seasonal influenza.
Authorities continue to recommend that people wash their hands and ventilate rooms.
They say social distancing will be effective in the face of a rise in infections, especially for others at higher risk for severe symptoms.
Businesses will be able to decide whether to continue anti-infection measures based on their effectiveness, costs and other factors. These include checking temperatures, installing hand sanitizers and setting up transparent barriers.
Health Ministry officials have announced that they will complete free testing and treatment of the coronavirus after the virus is reclassified in May.
But they say their money for hospital expenses, on the order of 20,000 yen, or about $150, will continue until the end of September, and that the public budget will be used to cover the cost of expensive medicines.
The government says it will review that financial support at the end of September.
Kanto Gakuin University near Tokyo says it will remove transparent panels from its cafeterias.
There are also plans to remove thermometers installed in the front of the university to measure the temperature of the frame. Students will be required to wear masks.
One of the academics says she is pleased with the university’s decision to remove acrylic barriers.
“With screens, it’s hard to have conversations. I think the update will make it less difficult for us to talk to each other,” he says.
Some governments say they will continue to use acrylic barriers.
“We want to take into account the characteristics of the town hall, where a wide diversity of citizens would come, including the elderly and others with underlying diseases,” says Sugita Go, a Komae city government official.
Japan reported 6,730 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.
Health Ministry officials say there were 67 patients in critical condition hooked up to ventilators or ECMO machines.