Anger as Japanese Prime Minister offers two cloth masks per family while refusing to declare coronav

[大汉奸柳传志]

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/02/asia/japan-coronavirus-shinzo-abe-masks-hnk-intl/index.html

Tokyo (CNN)Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is facing a public backlash after he said the government would distribute two reusable cloth face masks per household amid growing concern over medical shortages as the country faces a worsening coronavirus outbreak.

The number of confirmed cases of the virus has spiked in recent weeks, after it appeared that Japan's initial response had got the virus relatively under control. As of Wednesday, there were more than 2,300 cases across Japan, and 57 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.
That spike has seen a raft of new restrictions put in place in Tokyo and other major cities, and a run on protective gear, including face masks. On Wednesday, Abe said the provision of cloth masks to the worst hit areas "will be helpful in responding to the rapidly increasing demand."
But Abe's proposal to send two masks to each household attracted outrage and mockery online Wednesday, with the hashtag "Abe's mask" and "screw your two masks" trending on Twitter.
Many felt the move was lackluster and would not go into effect fast enough to have a chance at curbing the spread of the virus, with masks not due to be distributed until the end of the month. Others dubbed the policy "Abenomask policy" as satirical memes showing well-known cartoon characters sharing one mask between four family members popped up online.


一世帯に二枚のマスク #贋作 #○○風に時事ネタを振り返ろう


https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1245347220259393537

Over the past week, Japan has scrambled to avert an explosive surge in infections. While the current tally stands at around 2,300 cases, Japan -- a country of over 127 million people -- has only tested just over 30,000, compared with 394,000 tests carried out in neighboring South Korea, which has a population of just over 51 million.
The apparently low infection rate has created what many experts fear is a false sense of security, with people still going out in public, some not wearing masks, to see cherry blossoms, a traditional spring pastime.

Pandemic takes toll on small sushi joints in Japan 02:42

On Wednesday, medical experts warned that Japan's healthcare system would not be able to bear the strain if coronavirus infections continued to spread.
A government panel warned that though Japan has not seen an explosive increase in infections so far, hospitals and medical clinics in Tokyo, Aichi, Kanagawa, Osaka and Hyogo were increasingly stretched and that "drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible."
Economic repercussions are also a concern. Earlier this week, Japan's ruling party pledged to secure a 60 trillion yen ($556 billion) stimulus package to cushion an economy already hit by the postponement of the Olympics and coronavirus pandemic.
DIY masks amid shortages[/paste:font]
While Abe's cloth mask proposal was met with anger, Japan isn't the only place mulling the use of improvised facial wear, amid widespread shortages in proper protective gear.
Mask use has been widespread in Asia since the beginning of the pandemic, but shortages and conflicting advice in many western countries has caused many people to go without, despite widespread evidence that masks help protect against the spread of the virus.
Cloth masks are not as effective as surgical masks or respirators, but they do offer limited protection and are easier to produce.
Across the US, people have been stepping up to create homemade masks for health care workers and other high risk populations amid widespread shortages and complaints from hospitals that they are not receiving supplies fast enough.
In March, US retailer JOANN Fabrics and Craft Stores released a video tutorial on how to make face masks. The retailer encouraged people to drop them off at store locations, where they will be donated to local hospitals.
But with a dwindling supply of N95 respirators and a surge in virus cases, healthcare facilities are bracing for the worst, and Japan may not be the last country to distribute cloth masks to its citizens.
CNN's Harmeet Kaur contributed to this report.

 

[CHN Bamboo]

The number of infections in Japan has not increased rapidly, in sharp contrast to European countries and US. Perhaps good personal hygiene effectively prevented the outbreak.

 

[Viet]

The number of infections in Japan has not increased rapidly, in sharp contrast to European countries and US. Perhaps good personal hygiene effectively prevented the outbreak.

You mean the europeans haven’t good record in personal hygiene? What a nonsense. The high infection rate is caused by dense population and other factors.

 

[CHN Bamboo]

You mean the europeans haven’t good record in personal hygiene?

If compared with the Japanese, personal hygiene of Europeans is not good enough.

The high infection rate is caused by dense population

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population_density
The population density of Japan(333 pop./km²) is higher than that of most European countries and the United States(34 pop./km²).
However, only more than 2 thousand people in Japan have been diagnosed with COVID-19, which is 1% of the number in the US.

Japanese are also more dependent on public transport, but even with all the disadvantages, the epidemic in Japan is not serious.

 

[Viet]

If compared with the Japanese, personal hygiene of Europeans is not good enough.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population_density
The population density of Japan(333 pop./km²) is higher than that of most European countries and the United States(34 pop./km²).
However, only more than 2 thousand people in Japan have been diagnosed with COVID-19, which is 1% of the number in the US.

Japanese are also more dependent on public transport, but even with all the disadvantages, the epidemic in Japan is not serious.

What you mean with better personal hygiene in Japan? You mean the Japanese wash themselves more often than the people in Europe?

Nonsense

As we know infection is caused by droplets and contacts. Even when you wash yourself 10 times a day, you can’t avoid infection in a subway when you stand next to a person with virus.

If Japan is too relax with containment the infection will rise. It’s just a matter of few days or weeks.

 

[Menthol]

Even thou you get thousands of newly infected people, but on the new arrivals in the airport or seaport... I think it's fine.

But if you get tens people but on the street... It's a red alert.

 

[scherz]

To be honest to all of you.
Have you being in Japan or Europe? And have you lived with the locals for atleast a couple of days? How do you know then, which standard they have?

I dislike such nonsense wrong facts. Its like a wester says all chinese eat dogs.

 

[Menthol]

To be honest to all of you.
Have you being in Japan or Europe? And have you lived with the locals for atleast a couple of days? How do you know then, which standard they have?

I dislike such nonsense wrong facts. Its like a wester says all chinese eat dogs.

What you said is true.

But it's on social media.

My friends are also saying that Japan is safe because they have a high hygiene standard.

I feel like I read the article about it before, that then it becomes viral in social media.


I think that is what most people believe until today...

 

[Daghalodi]

Stay Safe Japan..

 

[tower9]

Japan's numbers are low because they haven't been testing.

 

[Mista]

The number of infections in Japan has not increased rapidly, in sharp contrast to European countries and US. Perhaps good personal hygiene effectively prevented the outbreak.

Japan has a culture of wearing masks. And they are very thorough in the cleaning of public areas, Singapore doesn't even come close.

Most importantly they took this more seriously than Europe. The Japanese DPM told the G7 about the pandemic back in Feb but apparently the Italian minister told him that only Asians will get infected.

 

[Nike]

Japanese is quite introvert, they are close community unlike open and relatively communal society of western European and US people, not many people in Japan can stand to greeting each other with shake hand or hugging each other they will always keeping their distance and prefer to bowing their head for greeting. Culture and typical person is what made the differences...

Japan has a culture of wearing masks. And they are very thorough in the cleaning of public areas, Singapore doesn't even come close.

Most importantly they took this more seriously than Europe. The Japanese DPM told the G7 about the pandemic back in Feb but apparently the Italian minister told him that only Asians will get infected.

Especially in winter and autumn season, or when roses starting to blooming. Many cant stand to flower pollen, they are wearing clothes masks since early 60s or even before