Japan

[pam290358]

Japan closed its’ borders in April. Face masks were mandatory from the star, outdoors and in all indoor public areas, and widespread testing is in force regardless of symptoms. Their incidence of Covid has been very low. Why do other governments appear not to be looking at how Japan is handling the pandemic and AIBU to think that instead of running around like headless chickens amid rising Covid rates, ruined businesses and soaring debt, our government should stop the seemingly endless petty infighting and follow Japan’s example by introducing similar measures.

Is that you, Joanna?

Japan has been in a recession for over 9 months...Their economy was ruined also

widespread testing is in force regardless of symptoms

Is this even accurate? You couldn’t get a test at all even if you had symptoms unless you had proven contact with a COVID+ person. If this changed, it’s too recent to make a difference

Same ib australia as far as Im aware. School children now back in school agyer long lockdown but sent home at slightest sniffle or sore thrist3.

Also overlooked:

Japanese don’t WFH so are still packed in those trains.

Maybe it doesn’t make a difference anyway since they are not obese, don’t tend to get Western ‘lifestyle’ diseases and are heavy smokers (said to have a protective effect!!)

Not really.

There is little testing here and masks are enforced largely by social convention. The state here actually has very few powers to impose stuff (masks, lockdowns) on people.

Japan did get the "3Cs" thing right, and its population chose to wear masks anyway without it being the law. People are also quite slim and have low rates of vitamin D deficiency which probably helps. The government response however has been less than great.

The European response, especially UK/France/Italy has been very strange to watch.

Particularly with regard to masks and borders - we are in such a mess now.

We have been so unlucky to have the most useless government just when we really needed a clear direction from the top.

The government response however has been less than great

Also, the Japanese government response has been roundly criticised domestically, not that you’d know it from coverage abroad.

Lots of conspiracy theories going around that they were hiding deaths (they weren’t) which shows you the low level of trust.

I saw it described as Australia looked at Europe’s handling and thought “fuck that” and looked at Asia’s handling so copied that.

Probably better looking at Taiwan for inspiration.

@EvilPea

I saw it described as Australia looked at Europe’s handling and thought “fuck that” and looked at Asia’s handling so copied that.

They didn’t copy Asia’s response though, did they? I don’t think many countries in Asia besides China did lockdowns.

They are checking everyone's temperature there before they are allowed to go in anywhere, shops, restaurants etc. Plus wearing masks, washing your hands and not being as tactile as we are here is all part of their usual every day life.

follow Japan’s example by introducing similar measures.

Yeah, because the Great British Public have been so great at following the current rules...

It's big in Japan....

Keeping the Covid 19 figures low.