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As new cases of coronavirus continue to rise in a number of countries around the world, worrying divides have begun to form as those opposed to mask-wearing decry recommendations and requests to cover their faces to help stop the spread of the virus.
In Japan, mask-wearing is not mandatory but it doesn’t really have to be, as masks have been a part of everyday life here even before coronavirus. However, while the large majority of the public is masking up during the pandemic, a small faction of anti-maskers has appeared, and they’re not just opposed to masks — they are against any form of restraint in regards to stopping the spread of the virus.
The group is being led by YouTuber and leader of the Popular Sovereignty Party Masayuki Hiratsuka, who ran an unsuccessful campaign in the July Tokyo Gubernatorial Election. His campaign slogan, “Coronavirus is just a cold” failed to gain traction with voters, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t picked up followers who agree with his views.
On Aug 9, a number of party supporters gathered for a “Cluster Protest” outside Shibuya Station, where people held up placards that read “Masks, Social Distancing, The ‘Three Cs’, Self-restraint Not Necessary." The group, which included women with babies and toddlers, were all unmasked for the three-hour-plus-long protest outside the station.
In a YouTube video uploaded to his channel a day before the protest, Hiratsuka encouraged people to join him in “hijacking” the Yamanote Line with unmasked passengers after the demonstration, so that passengers with masks would “feel stupid” for wearing them.
News of the planned demonstration on the Yamanote Line sparked warnings on social media before the event, and “Cluster Festival” started trending on Twitter as people advised others to stay away from the Yamanote Line at around 8 p.m., the time at which the “hijacking” was scheduled to take place.
The below notice warned that a group of people without masks might cause a disturbance on the Yamanote Line, creating a “Three Cs” environment that the government has asked people to avoid.
While close to 100 people were expected to take to the Yamanote Line without masks, videos and photos showed the group accompanying Hiratsuka was considerably smaller, suggesting roughly about a dozen people took part. Among them were these two, who wore shirts calling coronavirus “fake news” and 5G a “murder weapon”.
While there are no fines for not wearing masks in Japan, the act of not wearing them, especially in a crowded, confined space like a train carriage is strictly frowned upon. And as Hiratsuka told people to expect a second “Cluster Festival” on the Yamanote Line in future, people in Japan and abroad were quick to condemn his actions.
“If a cluster does come out of this they should all be denied the use of the public health service.”
“These people are similar to terrorists and extremists.”
“What’s frightening is that adults are encouraging their children to take part.”
“They’re acting like they’re in a cult.”
“Even if you just have a cold, you should wear a mask.”
Wearing a mask when one is sick is so ingrained in Japanese culture that the majority of the population don’t give mask-wearing a second thought at the first sign of a sniffle, let alone when there’s a deathly pandemic sweeping the nation.
While this group of anti-maskers say they want to make waves and challenge the status quo, Hiratsuka appears to be more concerned about being able to attend “live houses” (small live concert venues) which were closed during the height of the first wave earlier this year. Despite expressing dismay over the live house situation on social media, starting up a movement on the premise that coronavirus is “just a cold” and shunning the use of masks isn’t going to bring his favorite bands back to the stage any sooner.
After all, in Japan it’s widely understood that wearing a mask doesn’t just protect you — it protects others, so not wearing one is like giving the middle finger to everyone around you.
Source: Jin
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- You can now get stick-on salon masks for haircuts in the coronavirus age in Japan
-- Japanese model cuts up her bra and turns it into a face mask
-- Ramen face mask from Japan fogs up your glasses, looks like a steaming hot bowl of noodles
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2020/08/10/anti-mask-group-in-tokyo-slammed-for-cluster-festival/
131 Comments
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ExJourno
Idiots!
It is unbelievable! This is not a freedom or human rights issue. It's just common sense. I feel like we're in Wonderland: "Off with their heads"!
divinda
The Japanese verion of Q-Anon, blaming 5G as well.
While they may not be required to wear a mask in public places, I just hope these morons don't start going into stores, shouting at clerks, and purposely coughing on others.
Mr Kipling
I’m sorry to say that if I come across one of these selfish idiots, corvid-19 may be the least of their worries. My self restraint would be severely tested.
runner3
I don't understand why their identity is is hidden! I would be so ashamed if I knew anyone participating in this ridiculous protest. Fools.
savethegaijin
@vic.M
The mask prevents people who are asymptomatic from unknowingly spreading. It's useless to only wear it if YOU are the one that is sick.
Yes, for now, it's a part of life. Grow up, deal with it.
ExJourno
Mr Kipling
Agree with you. But remember you may tell and scream at an idiot in Japan but you may not touch them. It is the law! You can go full Yakuza and get right up in their faces but no physical contact. If they touch you, though call 110 and report to the police that you've been assaulted.
But getting to the back to the point: I am flabbergasted by these tin-foil hat-wearing conspiracy theorist cult members who believe Covid-19 was manufactured by the Chinese and delivered through the 5G network. 5G is not even up and running yet!
Alfie Noakes
Yet 3,661,371 were happy to vote for historical-revisionist Yuriko Koike.
Bruce Chatwin
0.15%. Only 0.15% of voters in the 2020 Tokyo Gubernatorial Election cast their ballot for Masayuki Hiratsuka. That's less than 9,000 votes out of over 6 million votes cast. To describe this lunatic as fringe would be an act of charity.
Peter Neil
Oh man. 5G and fake news?
This is the double edge sword of the Internet. It can make you stupid or make you smart.
Starbucks
You'll all be sorry when the mothership comes for them and you're left with the virus.
stormcrow
Proof that America alone doesn't corner the market when it comes to idiots and fools.
They should've invited Trump to open the 'cluster festival' with a speech.
Kumagaijin
I went jogging today (in Kumagaya) and stopped at a local park (kohen) to get a drink from the fountain. I washed my face and took a drink using my hands as a cup. Two middle-aged Japanese women, wearing masks and full Sunday dress outfits with hats were waiting for me to finish. They approached the fountain with caution after and they decided it was best not to touch the faucet with their bear hands. One of the ladies removed her shoe and tapped on the faucet to turn it on (dirt side down). I watched from afar. I thought to myself "why bother going outside in near 40 degree heat with full anti-Covid gear if you're worried about getting the virus"? Anyways, I'm not an anti-maker in any way, but the behaviors of these two women was abhorrent. They actually got the faucet dirtier by touching it with their shoe. Pathetic. I wish I had got it on camera.
Kuruki
Japan was the last place I expected to find anti-maskers...
8T
The term Conspiracy Theory was created by the CIAin 1967 as a way to discredit anyone who dared to challenge their official version of the truth.
The coronavirus is spread through tiny microdroplets emitted through coughs and sneezes that float through the air, or rest on surfaces and can remain infectious for several days. Standard flat surgical masks don’t give full coverage, so very small droplets suspended in the air can still get through.
If a person’s hand has come in contact with the virus, and they touch their mask to adjust it in the vicinity of their eyes, nose and mouth, it can transmit the disease.
Masks get saturated with moisture from the mouth and nose after about 20 minutes. Once they’re wet, they no longer form a barrier against viruses trying to come through or exit.
HBJ
They decide to protest and go all anti-establishment about THIS?!
Take a closer look at your government guys. There's plenty there that should be outraging you.
serendipitous1
Fear not. These idiots (who don't deserve any media coverage) make up about 0.0000000001 of the population of Japan.
commanteer
Social distancing, Mr. Kipling. Remember social distancing.
NPSolberg
There is no excuse! Pardon my expression: selfish idiots!
Fighto!
Losers just trying to get a bit of media attention and fame, despite the facts that masks save lives. As for those (in many countries) who keep claiming Covid-19 "is just a cold" - you can be sure they all failed at school.
What is truly scary is that some of these deadbeats have children - the next generation of brainless.
Do the hustle
With idiots like this the world is doomed!
Jimizo
I don’t know who’s vulnerable. I can see elderly and obese people but I can’t tell on sight who’s got a heart condition, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension etc.
The best thing to do is put a mask on. Reading around on this rather than cherry picking things which support preconceived ideas ( often politically motivated ), suggests to me that masks are probably useful in helping lessen the spread.
In situations like this, probably is good enough. I’d say maybe is good enough given that wearing a mask is such a trivial inconvenience.
Put your politics aside here.
Bruce Chatwin
What kind of person refers to Covid-19 as the "CCP virus" or the "China virus"?
Fuzzy
The idiot minority. Ignore them and they’ll soon crawl back under the rocks from which they came.
Desert Tortoise
Huh? Explain please how love somehow prevents the spread of a pandemic? It strikes me that love is neutral. What matter is taking simple appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of disease.
Goodlucktoyou
These idiots give a bad name to us responsible anti-mask people. We don't wear masks unless it is really important, wear them properly with eyewear, social distance and hand wash and don't touch our faces. We don't wear masks while alone in our cars or hiking in the mountains. There is plenty of very solid research that argues paper masks are ineffective.
I watched a documentary yesterday where scientists believe it will take the sea 450 years to recover from discarded masks and gloves!
Toasted Heretic
Not surprised.
Ignorance and conspiracy theories spread even faster than the virus.
Protest by all means but please, please wear masks.
Hervé L'Eisa
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/08/07/sciadv.abd3083/tab-pdf
While some feel protected by their masks, the science is less heartening.
Jimizo
That’s part of the problem. I sense a very selfish brat-like attitude from some wailing about masks. Poor parenting.
These people are so predictable.
ADK99
@Whatnext
That's exactly why these people are dangerous morons. They have NOT been forced to wear masks, they have been recommended to wear masks. Most people are complying, which is their decision. A few people are not complying, which is also their decision.
To gather a load of people together to protest against being asked to wear a mask, not forced is childish and irresponsible. That they were initially planning to do this on the Yamanote line is reprehensible.
Even if it is just a cold, why on earth is it OK to intentionally spread that around? Most people are just trying to go about their business, get to work etc safely and responsibly. We don't need idiots like this trying to impose their opinion on the rest of us. Because that is what they are doing.
Takara
tommy eddy kookabura
so what?
are you going to try to learn if you have some preexisting conditions you may not be aware of?
smithinjapan
Well, no more finger pointing at how moronic a lot of Americans who do the same thing are, since it is a homegrown thing, too.
Bruce Chatwin
True. Tokyo seems to like their governors on the far right. Ishihara immediately comes to mind.
And Osaka is saddled with the revisionist Ishin no Kai.
Bruce Chatwin
The Lancet Volume 395, ISSUE 10242, P1973-1987, June 27, 2020:
Transmission of viruses was lower with physical distancing of 1 m or more, compared with a distance of less than 1 m (n=10 736, pooled adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0·18, 95% CI 0·09 to 0·38; risk difference [RD] −10·2%, 95% CI −11·5 to −7·5; moderate certainty); protection was increased as distance was lengthened (change in relative risk [RR] 2·02 per m; pinteraction=0·041; moderate certainty). Face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection (n=2647; aOR 0·15, 95% CI 0·07 to 0·34, RD −14·3%, −15·9 to −10·7; low certainty), with stronger associations with N95 or similar respirators compared with disposable surgical masks or similar (eg, reusable 12–16-layer cotton masks; pinteraction=0·090; posterior probability 95%, low certainty).
The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis support physical distancing of 1 m or more and provide quantitative estimates for models and contact tracing to inform policy. Optimum use of face masks, respirators, and eye protection in public and health-care settings should be informed by these findings and contextual factors. Robust randomised trials are needed to better inform the evidence for these interventions, but this systematic appraisal of currently best available evidence might inform interim guidance.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext
i@n
So vaccines failed you? Or your parents didn't get you vaccinated?
Anyway you won't really know for sure if they worked right? Only if they failed.
Btw doctors and nurses at the hospital wear masks also, but maybe just for show right?
Mark
Dear Mr. Masayuki Hiratsuka,
I once was 110% anti mask wearing for over 23 years, only recently I started wearing it but only when I go shopping, Restaurants or Hospitals or other public places.
I felt it is my duty as a citizen and a member of this society to start saving lives and help slow down the spread of the virus. It is a fact that only few like you have disputed.
That is what every responsible citizen has done so far, and if you wish NOT wear a mask then do us a favor and STAY HOME at your keyboard.
Akie
It is a dangerous mix of stupid people with stupid govt, a recipe for a disaster.
macv
I was assaulted last week punched in face by Japanese guy who got pissed off at my admonishing him for not wearing a mask.
Alfie Noakes
There were 20,000 Neo-Nazis, conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers at a rally in Berlin on August 1st. Sadly, these crackpots are everywhere. Maybe Japan is lucky that theirs seem to be fairly benign.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/01/world/berlin-germany-covid-19-protest-intl/index.html
gogogo
Wow I thought Japanese people were smarter than this...
Vanessa Carlisle
Despite a much more positive outcome with Covid 19 in Japan, its actually amazing that most people are being very compliant with everything, from mask wearing to use of hand sanitizer to staying home whenever possible.
Even as the number of Covid 19 cases rise, the deaths and serious cases are not. Yet most people comply. What's actually bizarre is so few protesting or complaining. Welcome to Japan. Conformity is us.
藤原
It comes down to the choices people make. Its not only you, do what is right to keep others safe. Wear a mask try to stay away from others. The decisions you also make affect the lives of others.
Hubert Gulletchip
My philosophy is: Nobody should be forced to wear a mask. But, you should wear a mask. It's not about you, it's about those who potentially could suffer from it. It's about human decency and respect for your fellow man.
TigersTokyoDome
Taiwan has managed Covid better than anyone. You cannot ride the Taipei metro without a mask.
There may not be a national law about wearing a mask but trains are on private property and the train companies could easily put a mask rule in place.
It is probably idiots like these who have been spreading Covid-19 around Tokyo. They probably freely drink out without sanitary handwashing or masks.
i@n
Really unfortunate but it is what it is.
We may increase chances of infection to ourselves by touching the mask and touching our faces but as long as we don't touch others or objects or we sanitize our hands afterwards then hopefully we don't increase the chances of others being infected by us.
Vinke
@Penfold
Dying would be an easy way out, actually. It's the long-lasting health deteriorating symptoms I'm more iffy about.
We also have treatment, cures, therapy etc. for depression and suicidal tendencies, but so far we have pretty much nothing for covid-19.
Sneezy
Why can’t you?
sf2k
I'm afraid there are groups like this in every country. It's some kind of natural reaction, not realizing reality versus opinion
yoshisan88
I am not too surprised that there are Japanese who are against wearing masks. However, they are serious enough about this matter to organise and participate in a protest comes as a shock to me.
Jim
Japan has its fair share of idiots!
Whatsnext
Ian:
You can't just compare countries with mask usage. There are so many co-factors that come into play that it would not be considered scientific.
You need to have a controlled study.
i@n
Of course co-factors still apply
Tommy Eddy Kookabura
I love people wearing their masks. Please use them always. Even after covid please wear them. And also stay home. Play video games etc... At the moment it's so quiet outside and real paradise.
Flute
@Tarp horiuchi
You understand the japanese law.
No, we should thank them if they were actually doing it. That is not the case.
Yes. Some people seems to forget that the government has already make clear that they consider the possibility of changing the law to increase their response power but for doing that they unfortunately need to change the Constitution. So by complying to the request and urge, we protect the Constitution as making change not necessary. Did you even bother reading the kind of change, they are looking for ? If you claim to want to protect freedom, I think you are barking at the wrong tree.
(other counter available, obviously)
8/
What the ? Why are so many anti-mask people not able to give argument not implying deeper state, antisemitism, 5G, lezard people from underground and so on ?
Erratum, it is Putin vaccine. Wrong tree again.
As said before, the best way to make it mandatory is to let the useful idiots enough ground to give the opportunity to the government to change the Constitution. And you should not take other so lightly, there is just so much pressure can do.
You understand that quote do not apply as people are not sacrificing liberty, we are talking about wearing a mask here, for safety, lot clearly stated that they are doing it for safety but for protecting other (read I@n once more).
nintendogirl
Just one word: stoopids
kwatt
Some people don't want face mask and social distance,,etc. Such people are anywhere in the world. It seems to me such morons/idiots die and smart people can survive.
Fuzzy
Ann, by the way, there is a big difference between fearing something and respecting it.
OssanAmerica
This is shocking because we all thought Japanese were all the same; obedient and well mannered and all thought and acted the same, not to mention that masks were already culturally acceptable before Covid19.
Obviously not, there are idiots in Japan just like in any country. But it does go to show that unless a country has laws that allow making a public health preventative measure (like wearing a mask) mandatory and legally enforceable, you will always get ignorant and/or outright stupid and selfish individuals like these.
Bruce Chatwin
From the article:
In fact, recent studies suggest that wearing face masks reduces the spread of COVID-19 on a population level, and consequently blunts the growth of the epidemic curve (7, 8).
Chabbawanga
The longer I have lived in Japan, the more I have come to realise how few differences there are between people here and people back home.
gokai_wo_maneku
This is the latest fad imported from the USA.
Objective
I see people with unpopular opinions practicing free speech. No laws are being broken here.
Whatsnext
Forcing others to wear mask is an over reaction to a disease that has an extremely low death rate, especially if your young and healthy.
You think these guys are crazy. I think these mask bullies are the crazy ones. Just look up the statistics for yourself.
Fanny Greene
If his mother or grandmother die of corona will he still call it just a cold?
Selfish and irresponsible.
i@n
Lol why don't you do your own research?
TheRat
Is it possible to get the addresses of these people, Japantoday. It will be nice to pick up some of their stuff for pennies on the dollar, when they kick off.
Strangerland
It's a symptom of what people sometimes call "first-world problems". A lack of adversity, combined with a lot of free time due to the automation of society and a high standard of living gives people the freedom to overthink. Poor people working two or three jobs for a living aren't going on about this stuff, they're trying to cover their base needs. People in war-torn areas aren't going on about this stuff, they're trying to stay alive. People living off the land aren't going on about this stuff, they're trying to cover their base needs AND stay alive.
We almost should be thankful that these silly ideas are the problems we have, rather than say, worrying about whether a tiger is going to eat you when you go out to relieve yourself at night.
I don't know how we deal with it though. Trying to silence them doesn't and won't work. It just makes it look like there is something to silence. Pointing out logic doesn't work, they just ignore it. Making fun of them mostly doesn't work, it just makes them fight harder. And ignoring them doesn't work, because they only need one person to acknowledge them to keep continuing.
Mike
Freedom fighters
sunfunbun
I sorta understand what you're saying, but what you write contradicts itself. You're not anti-mask if you talk of wearing masks responsibly. You promote wearing masks, in certain situations, then go on to say masks are ineffective and pollute the seas.
The people in the article are smug complete anti-mask idiots. You are a mask wearer who doesn't think mask wearing to be ubiquitous nor totally believable. You're not anti-mask, per se.
Hervé L'Eisa
The Groupthink here is quite strong. Good intentions and all that. However, the "science" of facemasks is more than shaky.
https://mises.org/wire/when-it-comes-masks-there-no-settled-science
If you feel that wearing a dust mask will protect you, then please wear one and be happy. Please practice your social distancing as you see fit. But living in constant fear will only further damage your life.
Follow the proper protocol:
https://www.moh.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Wearing-masks-AmendedVersion.pdf
starpunk
Stupid.
i@n
Yes I think sources 7,8 are the most pertinent also
i@n
Whatsnext:
I don't mean compare countries which are mask wearing and not mask wearing.
Imean compare or analyze the stats of countries which adopted mask wearing, before and after they have adopted the practice.
Same country, before and after adoption of mask wearing
The Avenger
Not according to the SoftBank website.
日本国内の5Gサービスは全国で一斉にスタートというわけではなく段階的なスタートになりますが、2020年3月から都市部を中心とした一部のエリアでサービスが開始されました。
https://www.softbank.jp/biz/5g/column2/
longtimenosee
@bass4funk
Not wearing a mask = killing.
bass4funk
It doesn’t work like that always.
Mike
ZvonkoJonathan
Anything to gain attention and maybe a little money or political gain. It is also copying of trend in the les civilized countries as USA and other anarchys
starpunk
Even yesterday when I drove out to town to visit the VA clinic I saw some people - young, old, families w/o masks or protection. We have some kids going back to school already and they're getting sick by the hundreds. My city mayor is an incompetant boob, our state governor has been acting too little too late and of course America doesn't have a true President to guide the nation thru the pandemic crisis and set an example. He keeps on lying and bellowing about being the Messiah.
I noticed when Joe Biden and VP candidate Kamala first appeared together they both had masks on - a good example. Joe has suggested making masks mandatory thruout the nation. Thing is, he doesn't have the absolute all-encompassing authority for something like that and he knows it.
8T
Well, It made the JT front page today!
since1981
What I would like to say about these idiots is not permitted, so I'll leave you to your imagination.
Slickdrifter
“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”
― George Carlin
i@n
If you'd like to read more about the topic the link provided by Herve above seems a good start. Very recent study with sources listed.
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/08/07/sciadv.abd3083/tab-pdf
Toasted Heretic
This dubious statement is being used more and more often by conspiracy theorists to advance their agenda.
If you disagree with it, so the suggestion goes, you must support the CIA and other such nonsense.
It's terrifying that the disease of falsehoods is spreading and the war on science continues.
The question is, why are they trying to infect us here?
America, Brazil and other countries might never recover from the plague of lies that has erupted under the current populist administrations.
We don't need it here.
bass4funk
I don’t go out that much and when I do, it’s in the evening and I’m not around a lot of people anyway, so I don’t need to wear a mask.
i@n
Well if there are people forcing you thats undeniably an over reaction.
Anyway, regarding the stats, they pertain to a population mostly wearing masks, no?
So wearing masks may have played a significant role for the stats, we can't really use it to then justify not to wear one.
Other countries are following suit regarding mass use of masks, we can compare their stats wearing and not wearing masks
albaleo
@syzguy
George Carlin was a funny and often insightful person that made people think. But I wouldn't take his word on medical matters.
In the 1940s, the infant death rate in the USA was about 5 times the level it is now. Following George Carlin's logic, would that mean more kids are swimming in sewage today than when he was a kid?
bass4funk
Some of us have to work.
longtimenosee
My love for community is shown through my actions to protect the community by ALWAYS wearing a mask no matter hot or uncomfortable its, thank you very much.
Sneezy
I’m sure you could just take the day off.
Sneezy
What could possibly be stopping you?
Julie Riley
Idiots
Poor babies possibly exposed! :(
Mocheake
Stupidity knows no boundaries and they are absolutely stupid.
mtuffizi
people do not want to wear mask can live on an isolated island which do not affected others, they can live as freely as they wanted.
Toasted Heretic
It's about protecting others. I only fear idiots using hokey pseudo science to justify their selfishness.
Richard Gallagher
Why is it important to wear a mask, well, every fifteen seconds someone dies from covid-19 and masks inhibit acquisition of the virus. There are numerous studies by scientists who have conducted experiments to determine the effectiveness of masks: that confirm the use of masks significantly reduces the spread of the virus in excess of 80%. N-95 masks, in particular, are 96% effective. Contrary to the assertion by the anti-maskers that covid-19 is equivalent to the flu, is untrue, covid-19 is more than 10 times deadlier than the flu.
sakurasuki
Do they ever read or watch the news, check the numbers, even if they don't trust with JGovt they could check what other countries and international bodies do about pandemic?
Mirai Hayashi
Damn idiots!!! They are just going to get more people sick and prolong this pandemic!
yakyak
Why are they losers? They have their right to protest as well. Because they don't agree with you, they are losers? Let's not forget, the Japanese practically invented wearing face masks long before there was a pandemic. Maybe you should just listen to what they have to say, you might learn something. That is what a protest is all about. Listen then react, not the other way around.
Mirai Hayashi
Actually no! Wearing masks is not something that should be protested because its not a political cause or statement. Its a public health and safety issue, and if you don't get that by now, then you are not only part of the problem..you're making the problem WORSE!
El Rata
Kudos to this people for daring to go against the mainstream narrative!
Bruce Chatwin
Standard flat surgical masks do however give far more coverage than no mask at all, which would appear to be the whole idea...
Whatsnext
Great. I hope more people stand up against this mask nonsense. Let people do what they want. Stop being bullies.
mbuhlayaw
They should be slapped with a fine, or hope some of them get covid, since the person who leads this muppets think covid is just a common cold
Unamused
It seems like conspiracy nuts always look like the absolute losers no matter which culture they come from.
Tommy Eddy Kookabura
@madhorseman don't expect a fearful person to think clearly for themselves. Friend of mine works in biolab working with viruses... Full body suit the only way to have any chance with any virus...
Emily Jean
Send these idiots to China
YeahRight
What Goodlucktoyou said.
madhorseman
You know I hear people attacking those not wearing a mask, and then we have people acting like they are the Mask Police ready to punish the no mask criminals. So let me ask how does this work. In a lab you must have a body suit to protect you from the CCP virus but somehow we have idiots that think a cloth mask is spouse to protect you? Show me a study proving a mask can protect you from the CCP virus. Show me a study that proves keeping social distancing prevents you from getting the Virus. Stop listening to what they tell you on media and do your own research.
Strangerland
Yeah, during a pandemic, there certainly is.
Cost: the lives of elderly and immune-system compromised. Oh, and some discomfort when wearing a mask.
I guess you feel the former are expendable enough to be worth not doing the latter.
And that ignores the fact that I certainly don't want to live with scarred lungs for the rest of my life.
Giulia
These people don't even deserve health care in case they catch the virus. They are just selfish.
Bruce Chatwin
Here's the rest of that old (March 18) quote:
When are they (masks) useful?
Studies done during the SARS epidemic of 2003 found that for medical professionals, wearing any type of mask compared with none can reduce chances of getting sick by about 80 per cent.
The N95 mask, which gives better facial coverage and guards against smaller droplets, appears to be somewhat more effective than standard surgical masks. But medical professionals follow strict guidelines in taking masks on and off, discard them after each use, and use additional safeguards like eye protection and gowns to shield themselves.
They can help to prevent sick individuals from transmitting the virus by blocking droplets. But again, they are only useful until they get saturated.
https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/coronavirus-why-masks-dont-work/wcm/f0fbbf0b-de0b-4f4b-a8fa-8d79e1fb1eaa
Whatsnext
You got it penfold!
It seems to me people enjoy playing pandemic and bossing around others. This comment section is very telling
Desert Tortoise
Forcing others to wear mask is an over reaction to a disease that has an extremely low death rate, especially if your young and healthy.
You think these guys are crazy. I think these mask bullies are the crazy ones. Just look up the statistics for yourself.
A selfish, narrow and poorly informed point of view. For older people like myself catching Covid-19 will likely result in serious illness, perhaps even death. Wearing masks helps prevent the spread of the disease to older people who will suffer a great deal more than the young. You have no right to be selfish and risk infecting others that way. None whatsoever. In fact you have a moral obligation and in many places now a legal obligation to wear a mask to prevent infecting others. It isn't about whether you get infected, but what we all can do to prevent spreading it to others.
vic.M
How many people are supposedly dying every day from Covid in Japan ? Do people really want to live
in a society of faceless people. Sure, wear a mask if you HAVE flu symptoms but to look at it is a normal
part of life is ridiculous.
Kumagaijin
This is stupidity. Its not surprising though when you have Japan based conspiracy theorists and Youtube channels like the Corbett Report telling people that wearing a mask means you're a sheep and listening to authorities is fascism. Losers who just want attention.
wasao
Pointless message. No one is stopping them from going without masks. No one is stopping them from going to bars or partying.
Penfold
the virus has a mortality rate of 0.04% so why is everyone living in fear? For sure vulnerable people and obese people must take care.
More people dying from effects of lockdown, suicide, depression, DV.
wake up people!
Tommy Eddy Kookabura
Not one proven Corona only death exist... They all had preexisting conditions..
carpslidy
Generally speaking, with most respiratory viruses, people are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic.
Healthy people wearing a mask 24-7 inside and outside is not only unnecessary but dangerous in this heat.
Inside fine, outside forget it.
Magnet
@Goodlucktoyou and @YeahRight... The sea?? Seriously? People are dying by the thousands and you're more concerned about how long masks and gloves take to deteriorate in the sea??? Priority issues much?
Blitzwing
Good to see people waking up in Japan too..
bass4funk
Glad to see this! Finally someone with a brass pair willing to NOT follow the herd. If I could, I’d join them. Kudos to them.
onedragon
So many posters letting fear guide them! Let love guide you not fear.
Justin Person
First BLM and now this??