Japan is to disband a panel of medical experts advising Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet on the response to the novel coronavirus after criticism of its transparency and lack of independence, according to Reuters.

The way the panel, led by Takaji Wakita, chief of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, has been run has came under criticism after it was revealed last month that it kept no minutes of its discussions.

Media has also reported that the panel refrained from saying in a March statement that the virus could be transmitted from asymptomatic people — those with the virus who do not show symptoms — as the government asked it not to do so to avoid causing panic.