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Are you OK with wearing a mask when you are out and about as a measure to protect yourself against the coronavirus?

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as a measure to protect yourself against the coronavirus?

Wearing a regular mask or face-covering aims to protect your neighboring others, not yourself. It's important for each of us to presume or pretend that we've been already infected and carrying the virus, and behave accordingly for awhile. It is more practical to curb the spread than testing blitz.

36 ( +40 / -4 )

Always.

I don't like it, it's uncomfortable and plays havoc with the skin.

But that's pure selfishness on my part, because if it slows down or prevents transmission of the virus... all those minor irritants are worth it.

Please wear masks, folks. It may not prevent the spread of falsehoods and conspiracy theories but it may just save a life. Yours, mine, whoever.

29 ( +35 / -6 )

I don't care what others think, the stares or the criticism. I will never ever wear one. I know some people will say it's not about me but protecting others, but those at risk shouldn't be outside in the first place. Ultimately, if I don't care about me getting it, why should I care about others?What makes a random stranger so special to the extent of making others to forcefully wear a cloth over their face just so such person feels safe? I don't get it.

-62 ( +12 / -74 )

I've actually started working out with a mask on, purely nose breathing. It's hard, when your heart rate gets going it's instinctive to want to breath through the mouth. But I'm finding that forcing nose breathing, particularly when wearing a mask, as increased my endurance, and I seem to get into the flow/meditative state easier.

This isn't something I ever would have done had covid not come around, so it's interesting the new ideas that are coming out of it.

1 ( +18 / -17 )

@El Rata

Elderly and people with underlying conditions people need to go out shopping. They need to visit doctors. Some need to work. Some need to go out and care for others.

I remember you posted that you wear masks with customers. Extend the same courtesy to people who may die from an infection. Your principles are clearly flexible here.

Put a mask on. Do the decent thing.

37 ( +46 / -9 )

Ultimately, if I don't care about me getting it, why should I care about others?

The less measures taken by the public to contain the spread, the more old and vulnerable, even though who are isolating, will die. This is a direct relation.

I guess if you're ok with a certain portion of old people dying so that you don't have to go through the inconvenience of wearing a mask there isn't much society can do other than think you're a pretty pathetic member of it for being willing to sacrifice others because a grown human can't handle putting on a mask for 20 minutes in the grocery store.

26 ( +32 / -6 )

If you don't wear a mask you make life easier for the virus, i.e. you serve the virus and its aims.

10 ( +21 / -11 )

as a measure to protect yourself against the coronavirus

The rate of Yes for this question makes me see how utterly and truly rationality doesn't stand a chance against the general populous.

There is controversy in the scientific community, because there is low evidence, of masks working to prevent the spread of an illness in the middle of a pandemic (meaning, someone who has an illness and wears a mask), but there is no controversy at all over the fact that MASKS DO NOT WORK TO PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING AN ILLNESS.

People who wear it because they think they might be asymptomatic and do not want to spread an illness are still rational. Those who do it to prevent from getting it are acting completely irrational.

Viruses are nanometer sized. A mask will NEVER prevent a virus from getting to you.

-32 ( +11 / -43 )

I was cycling home the other day from an epic day riding along the river.

I was wearing my mask since I had just been to the local store when suddenly a Western guy gave me the biggest ever.....ppppffffftttttt!

I was thinking why he did that until I realised that I was masked up and he was au natural in the face department.

Weird.........not only selfish but macho as well.

19 ( +25 / -6 )

People who wear it because they think they might be asymptomatic and do not want to spread an illness are still rational. 

Rational is a good word. I prefer the word ‘decent’ here.

Put a mask on. You could prevent someone becoming seriously ill or dying.

10 ( +19 / -9 )

“OK with it or not” DO IT! Selfish idiots! WEAR A MASK.

14 ( +22 / -8 )

there is no controversy at all over the fact that MASKS DO NOT WORK TO PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING AN ILLNESS.

This is incorrect.

People on the internet keep repeating it. Doctors have said otherwise.

I know which group's opinion I place more value upon.

15 ( +23 / -8 )

This is incorrect.

People on the internet keep repeating it. Doctors have said otherwise.

https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/masking-lack-of-evidence-with-politics/

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

Put a mask on. You could prevent someone becoming seriously ill or dying.

Just answer this one question. Did you always used a mask, when showing symptoms of a respiratory or other infectious disease when you went out?

If your answer is no, then you are a hypocrite.

Millions of people die yearly from infectious diseases, yet, apparently mask usage has been only been recommended for COVID-19, even thou the IFR of the illness is around the 0.1-0.6% ballpark.

Not only that, high quality evidence for mask wearing is highly lacking, which is why before the world entered into a perpetual health scare state, all medical organizations wouldn't recommend mask usage, but now in this "new normal" world, benefits are just assumed while risks associated are usually ignored.

At this point, this is just pure panic.

-38 ( +5 / -43 )

Luis, why have over 3,000 doctors and nurses lost their lives to this new corona virus since January? Just a cold?

14 ( +20 / -6 )

I don’t wear one to protect myself, however I do wear a mask and have since the beginning of March. I work with kids and every year by this time I’ve had two or three colds. This year nothing. Purely anecdotal I know but people being more careful as well as wearing masks probably has something to do with it. I’m going to continue wearing a mask because I’m sure that wearing a mask has a positive effect on others.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

I don’t wear mask most of the time unless I really have to and I feel so much better and less stressed because of that, I refuse to follow the herd.

-26 ( +10 / -36 )

I see 21%, more than one out of five said no.

I've actually started working out with a mask on

Well, I guess we'll never see you without a mask. It's your new normal.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

I refuse to follow the herd.

You are following another herd.

I follow the herd which stands up for elderly people on the train. In a similar way, I follow the herd which wears masks to help prevent vulnerable people from suffering.

If you can’t easily muster empathy for strangers, try thinking about your parents and try to remember these elderly strangers are probably someone’s mum and dad. I lost my dad to respiratory illness, and my mum, 80 now, has kidney problems and is in the high-risk category. I hope more and more people make tiny sacrifices for her sake.

Do the decent thing. Keep politics out of this.

23 ( +29 / -6 )

Yes.

I had never worn a mask before 2020 and used to scoff at people here masked up. Now I pretty much wear one all the time in public places. Not because I am particularly concerned about rona, I naturally social distance. I just got pulled aside by a couple of J-buddies and got asked to consider others, that took me aback somewhat.

At the end of the day it's not that bad though. I got a fancy sports one. While it can be oppressive on occasion, especially when powering up stairs at the eki so I can be first out the gate. It can be very convenient in combination with a hat and sunnies. On my way home I may pluck some flowers from a garden for the better half. No one even bats an eyelid and the peace that affords me is well worth the suffocation.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

my mum, 80 now, has kidney problems and is in the high-risk category.

I hope she is staying home and safe so those in the low-risk category can go out and keep the economy from collapsing, which would be detrimental to your mum.

-13 ( +4 / -17 )

I wear one when indoors and crowded.

I see many people jogging with a mask, I would never do that.

I also see many driving their car by themselves with a car. Why???

I wonder how many people will die from heat stroke because they were wearing a mask.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

You are following another herd. 

Yes, my own personal independent herd. Lol

I follow the herd which stands up for elderly people on the train. In a similar way, I follow the herd which wears masks to help prevent vulnerable people from suffering. 

Ok

If you can’t easily muster empathy for strangers,

I don’t hang around a lot of strangers, too busy with my work.

Do the decent thing. Keep politics out of this.

Everything is about politics, even this virus sadly....

-20 ( +6 / -26 )

I follow the herd which stands up for elderly people on the train. In a similar way, I follow the herd which wears masks to help prevent vulnerable people from suffering. 

Ok

Yes. Decent values. Wearing a mask isn’t for you - it’s for the sake of others.

I cannot believe the amoral attitude of some. What kind of values were some people brought up with? Spoiled children...

my mum, 80 now, has kidney problems and is in the high-risk category.

I hope she is staying home and safe so those in the low-risk category can go out and keep the economy from collapsing, which would be detrimental to your mum.

She’s visited by a nurse and my sister is living with her now. If more people wear masks, the chance of these low-risk people doing their jobs being infected and passing it on to my mum is lowered.

Do the decent thing. Grow up. Put a mask on.

Keep politics out of it.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

 why have over 3,000 doctors and nurses lost their lives to this new corona virus since January? Just a cold?

Never said it was "just a cold", so nice strawman there.

Doctors and nurses are way more susceptible to get infected, because of their work, and many of the doctors and nurses that died were old people, and were in the vulnerable group, that's a fact.

Also, many of these people, should have never treated these patients if they themselves were vulnerable, but tragically, because of panic, many of them were basically seen as expendable, and ordered to keep working.

In fact, I do have a family member who died in Mexico from COVID-19. He was actually semi-retired, but was told by his old hospital to go back to work, treating only COVID-19 patients.

He got the virus, and was put on the ICU against his own will, and died because of intubation complications.

Of course this is just an anecdote, and it is not meant to represent the bulk of every single person who died from COVID-19.

-16 ( +4 / -20 )

As a measure to protect myself? No

As a measure to possibly protect others, in the event that I am infected and asymptomatic? Yes of course. Why would I not?

in the past, if I had a cold or other symptoms I would not wear a mask, I would simply stay at home. But that doesn’t work with COVID-19.

Politics does not come into it.

I couldn’t vote, coz I do wear a mask but not to protect myself. Badly worded question.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Yes. Decent values. Wearing a mask isn’t for you - it’s for the sake of others. 

Around elderly I do, that’s about it.

I cannot believe the amoral attitude of some.

Same here..

 

Do the decent thing. Grow up. Put a mask on. 

Keep politics out of it.

It’s not about growing up, it’s about you taking the initiative to do what you think is right as well as common sense and you don’t need a mask to do it. If others want to be mindless lemmings and follow the herd, their choice, I have a different opinion and politics will never be taken out of this, it has been political from the start.

-13 ( +4 / -17 )

 it has been political from the start.

only in certain places.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Around elderly I do, that’s about it.

What about around others who may in turn be around elderly or otherwise vulnerable people?

it has been political from the start.

Only for those who live in political bubbles.

If you let your actions be dictated by politics rather than common sense and morality, then I'm sorry but all I see is a mindless lemming.

Wearing a totally irrelevant red maga hat.

Invalid CSRF

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Most people won't change their minds, even when shown facts and data proving their opinion or understanding is incorrect or new facts evolve. Doctors, engineers and scientists are the least likely to be that way, and that's a good thing for humanity and science.

If someone won't change their mind when presented with facts or new factual information not understood before, you should have no respect for them.

Americans were told six months ago that there was no need to wear masks. They were told that to stop them from hoarding masks as they did with toilet paper, paper towels, etc., denying healthcare workers the masks they needed since they were/are on the frontlines and exposed to virus daily.

They knew that Americans can't be trusted to act in the best interest of the community or society. They only act out of self interest now.

So, the truth that masks are needed to slow the spread has been said continuously and daily a month later when PPE supplies were refreshed. But, some people are still using the six month old advice to justify their anti-social behavior.

If you can't change based on current information, you can't be trusted in any emergency.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

 it has been political from the start.

Not in Japan. Here, wearing a mask is common sense.

Actually, in all countries except those where the leaders politicized it, it's not a political issue. It's only been made political by inept leadership in certain countries. When you cross-reference the levels of infection and death in those countries, you find a common trend - they're diseased. Very diseased.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

If you wear a mask, I don't need to.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Not in Japan. Here, wearing a mask is common sense.

To those that want to wear it, sure. I usually don’t that’s where I stand.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

Viruses are nanometer sized. A mask will NEVER prevent a virus from getting to you.

The majority of medical opinion would disagree with you, but it’s always possible to google an article to support any argument.

It’s uncomfortable with a mask, especially in summer. I have a beard on my face, it helps avoid skin irritation from the mask.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I don't like wearing them, but will do so when I'm in places where there are people at higher risk of getting sick from the virus, like on the train, in the supermarket etc. But when outside in plenty of fresh air, the mask comes off.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Masks are better at protecting others, rather than protecting yourself.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I wear one but not really ok with it.  Especially in the depths of summer.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I wear one but not really ok with it. Especially in the depths of summer.

That's because you don't understand.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

This reminds me of certain opinions about wearing a seatbelt when that became a legal requirement.

"I've been driving every day for 20 years and never needed a seatbelt", and "It's not comfortable", some would claim.

"Just put it on and stop being an arse", "It could save your life", others would say.

You don't need your seatbelt until you need it. You can't plan for when you will need it.

This pushback from some people about masks is very similar.

"I've been walking around Tokyo for the last 3 months without a mask and I'm fine". "I don't like it, it's too hot".

You never know when you'll walk past someone who has the virus. That person may or may not be wearing a mask. They may or may not be showing symptoms. If a mask can reduce the number of droplets reaching your face, then it reduces the risk of getting, or passing on the virus. It's that simple.

Most sane people feel outrage at a driver who doesn't wear a seatbelt, or allows his/her young children to jump around the car without seatbelts. It's highly irresponsible, hugely dangerous, and simply ignorant. At least it isn't contagious.

Those refusing to wear masks in the middle of this pandemic are similarly irresponsible, dangerous, and ignorant.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Opinions on this issue shouldn’t be difficult, no need to stick out your neck. Bear donning a mask for the sake of all.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Wakarimasen: I wear one but not really ok with it. Especially in the depths of summer.*

Me: That's because you don't understand.

Sigh. Posters vote it down because they don't understand the joke...

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Those refusing to wear masks in the middle of this pandemic are similarly irresponsible, dangerous, and ignorant.

I could go with the scientific literature, talking about how the evidence for wearing masks for the general population is actually very fuzzy to near non existent, and that the only study that exists proving the efficacy of cloth masks not only didn't found them effective, but actually put them as probably more harmful than not wearing a mask, but I you will respond with basically the same line.

Facts don't matter, hard science doesn't matter, if governments and organization recommend them after a 180 degree change of policy recommendations in the middle of march of this year, without any real change in the facts or evidence, that's apparently science.

I actually don't care if people wear masks, or if people recommend their use, the real problem is when it is forced, when, once again, its efficacy is actually not cristal clear.

And even in the low evidence studies that do show some kind of benefit, they remark that other measures, like simple distance or washing your hands as way more effective way to prevent spread.

But the thing with masks is that they are now a "symbol" of the "sacrifice" people are doing.

Basically virtue signaling, which explains why the most radical get so aggressive when someone even suggests that "maybe it doesn't work".

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

This reminds me of certain opinions about wearing a seatbelt when that became a legal requirement.

The science behind seatbelt was actually pretty rock solid at that point. And it wasn't as if people weren't wearing them before it became a legal requirement.

Wearing seatbelts is a very obvious, physical and instantly visible way of avoiding harm, with little to no risks associated, or with the risks associated being less than the harm avoided.

I really do not remember anyone fighting the fact that seatbelts save lives, but it was more of a movement against nanny state policies (basically, those policies where the government punishes you for doing or not doing something that harms you, in other words harming you to make you avoid getting harmed by your own actions).

People stopped really talking about seatbelts legal requirement because people did see a good reason for it, and because police stopped to enforce the law so carefully as they did on the start.

Masks are nothing like that.

The current push for masks are just to avoid 1 single virus that has an IFR of 0.1-0.6%, assuming that everyone is asymptomatic, which is an overreaching assumption, because there is no way everyone is asymptomatic, so most people will be wearing a mask without any real benefit for anyone.

Not to mention that the science behind the infection dynamics and the role of masks is not hard science, the evidence is actually not that good, and there are a lot of factors that not only reduce the benefits masks could provide, by doing simple things like just not wearing it correctly, or touching your face more constantly that you would otherwise, but could also elevate the risk of infection.

There is a reason why they were actually not recommended before the whole COVID panic, and why countries like Norway are actually telling people not to wear them.

-16 ( +0 / -16 )

There is a reason why they were actually not recommended before the whole COVID panic, and why countries like Norway are actually telling people not to wear them.

Misleading. Keep it honest. The situation in Norway is changing. This is from Forbes:

“The government is not yet recommending the widespread use of face masks. However, Høie announced today that anyone arriving in Norway who is required to undergo home quarantine must wear a face covering during their journey home. Further face covering rules are to be announced by August 14.

Norway has recorded 256 deaths from COVID-19 since the outbreak began earlier this year. However, after two months with a very low infection rate, the rate of positive test results is starting to increase.”

The Norwegian institute of public health stated:

”If the epidemiological situation worsens substantially in a geographical area, the use of face masks as a precautionary measure should be reconsidered. Measures to reduce risks during necessary public transport and during mass events, including wearing face masks, should be explored further”

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Oh, I forgot to add masks are required on SAS and Norwegian airlines.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Misleading. Keep it honest. The situation in Norway is changing. This is from Forbes:

How is it misleading to say that Norway doesn't recommend masks, when you yourself quote this:

The government is not yet recommending the widespread use of face masks.

And it isn't just Norway, all of the Nordic countries do not recommend masks, have the lowest mask usage right now on record in the world, and somehow they are not dying in hordes as the Mask radicals would make you believe.

In fact, the idea that people in quarantine should use masks I think is a sensible one. You are at least telling people who are more lively to have the virus to use a mask than just in the general population at large.

Oh, I forgot to add masks are required on SAS and Norwegian airlines.

As far as I know those are private businesses?

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

No, because the science behind the wearing of masks doesn't prove them to be effective in protecting the wearer.

https://mises.org/wire/when-it-comes-masks-there-no-settled-science

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Misleading. Keep it honest. The situation in Norway is changing. This is from Forbes:

How is it misleading to say that Norway doesn't recommend masks

Because I gave a crystal clear example of a situation where a mask is required in Norway. Also, the situation regarding face masks is currently under review due to a spike in cases. In an honest debate, you should point that out. If you weren’t aware of it, fair enough. Your argument could have been misinterpreted as the Norwegian government dismissing the efficacy of face masks which is clearly not the case.

Mask radicals

I’m not a mask radical. From reading around, I get the sense there is some consensus that masks probably help prevent the spread of Covid. I’d accept ‘maybe’ in this situation as the wearing of a mask is so trivial. I mentioned my elderly mum. The people around her are out and about for work. They all wear masks because it might stop her being infected. Very decent and considerate people.

As far as I can tell, you are in the ‘maybe’ category. Is that right? That should be good enough. Think of others. You aren’t being asked to do anything too difficult or costly.

Oh, I forgot to add masks are required on SAS and Norwegian airlines.

As far as I know those are private businesses?

Yes. Just pointing out that mask wearing isn’t a strange idea for Norwegians and other Scandinavians

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Your argument could have been misinterpreted as the Norwegian government dismissing the efficacy of face masks which is clearly not the case.

Actually, they have basically the same approach I have about masks, evidence is low, general population =/= medican environment, surgical masks seem to be the only ones that work, but require to be used properly, and cloth masks are useless.

I'm going to quote the Norwegian Institute of Health:

Based on the current epidemiological situation, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health considers that there would be very little effect from general use of cloth face coverings in the population and there is no scientific basis for recommending the general use of face masks or cloth face coverings.

The idea that they are reviewing things makes sense, there are new studies all the time, and reviewing new evidence is always a good policy, I just hope that any new recommendations they make will be based on evidence and hard science like they have been doing for now, and do not lose to the pressure of a panicking nation as has happened all over the world.

As far as I can tell, you are in the ‘maybe’ category. Is that right? That should be good enough. Think of others. You aren’t being asked to do anything too difficult or costly.

By using that logic, I should also join Jehovah's Witnesses, just in case they are in the right, to avoid eternal hell for me and my family, which surely sounds worse than COVID-19.

Thing is, there is no strong evidence for this, so I will take my chances.

In the Mask department, I actually use masks when I'm sick and have to go out. I don't want to use masks as things are now, not because I think it is hard or anything like that, but because I see it as basically ignoring my own intuition and common sense on the matter, and basically contributing to the ever expanding panic of this pandemic.

If you think I'm selfish or dumb or whatever, be free to, but I'm not going to do something just because everyone is doing it even thou my own intuition tells me how useless it is.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Basically those Government policies that punish you for doing something potentially harmful are in place because when people do something potentially harmful to themselves they often result in being harmful to everyone else.

Sounds like the best attempt at a rationalizing and justifying Chinese government oppression ever. Excuse me while I TOTALLY reject the notion that my personal liberty has to be sacrificed on the oddball, lower than winning the lottery chance that I might fly out of my car's windshield and strike someone else. Better chance of being murdered by your husband so what next? Ban marriage and co-habitation for the public good?

I feel very dubious about exhalation filter masks, so mask or no mask I feel nothing about the people around me. I wear mine whenever I am in public but its a matter of not wanting to be inconvenienced at stores etc. and my boss demanding it at work. If someone is not literally coughing I cannot see how it helps. And if they are coughing they just should not be out.

Personally I think people should be taking hand sanitizer about 200 percent more seriously if there is any hope of really stopping Covid 19 spread.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Wearing a mask in public is also a legal requirement in many countries now. But it must cover the mouth and nose.

Many people hang their mask with nose exposed or even worse just covering their neck. Bear donning a mask please.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@LDY: Me thinks you doth protest too much.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I’m not here for ‘American politics’. I’m here for anti-stupid.

Don't know about you, but talking about "Voting for trump" in a Japanese news site in a poll about mask usage with someone who isn't American or lives in America paints a very different picture.

@LDY: Me thinks you doth protest too much.

Isn't that the worst of sins? Maybe Japan should also implement a law like the one from Hong Kong so that people like me do not protest so much, because protesting is bad.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Seatbelts didn't become mandatory because of science or bodies flying out hitting other bodies, or whatever you said.

It was the cost of medical care for the far greater trauma resulting from not wearing a seatbelt. Hospitals lose money on emergency, trauma and ICU care. Governments (taxpayers) ended up having to subsidize costs because of the excessive costs of caring for non-seatbelt wearing accident patients, including extensive rehabilitation and many times permanent brain injuries that required lifetime care, lifetime loss of income.

The risks of financial burden was the reason. It's always money.

It's the same thing with Covid-19.

You're a higher risk of catching Covid-19 by not wearing a mask. You're then a higher risk of transmitting it to others, even if asymptotic. If you're a serious case, the costs of your care will be very high, and you're now a burden to rest of us.

If you want to be logical, which I find is not always the case with people who are anti-mask, then think about this: What if you don't wear a mask and you're wrong? What if you wear a mask and you're wrong? One hurts you and others. The other doesn't hurt at all.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Even with the stroke addled Woodrow Wilson reacting identically to trump in the 1918-19 Pandemic in America, and despite similar protests as we see the dim making now, if you didn't wear a mask you went to JAIL. And the first year was NOTHING compared to the second year with an estimated (poor communications and record keeping) total death toll of 50-100 MILLION in a World population of ONLY 1.8 Billion. We have at this time 7.5 Billion susceptible souls... appreciate your loved ones now. And wear a mask when near or even maybe near others...it's just altruism, an innate quality in 'normal' Humans, but the quality most deprecated by our many psychopaths...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Talked to many fellow Canadians about masks and after getting used to the idea we generally see it as a sign of respect in protecting others from ourselves if we are a threat, not just as personal protection. Quite a stark difference than the continuing southern apocalypse formerly known as the USA

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Silly to see this issue argued. The link below gives very strong empirical test data which shows that the amount of breathable vapor droplets is significantly reduced when a mask is worn. This does not completely eliminate the chance of infecting others but significantly reduces the risk.

https://interestingengineering.com/slow-motion-video-contrasts-mask-effectiveness-against-spread-of-covid-19

In my case I am older so I really want folks around me to wear a mask (and yes I have been working and going about my normal life during this pandemic)

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

I only do it if I am going to be anywhere with a lot of people. I hate wearing a mask, but those at risk may still be infected if I am asymptomatic. If I'm going anywhere with very few people, spaced apart, or out in nature. No way.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Don't know about you, but talking about "Voting for trump" in a Japanese news site in a poll about mask usage with someone who isn't American or lives in America paints a very different picture.

exactly. You don’t know about me. Well said.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“But that's pure selfishness on my part, because if it slows down or prevents transmission of the virus... all those minor irritants are worth it.”

The research is inconclusive. All who fail to use might and may in their sentences seem to claim to know more than science.

I wear the muzzles in big shops etc to keep the locals happy however.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Interesting article by Peter Hitchens on them https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8537489/amp/PETER-HITCHENS-Face-masks-turn-voiceless-submissives.html

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hitchens, in the above link, shows that WHO (supposed to represent the world on health matters) changed its position on masks not due to scientific research, but political lobbying.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You're a higher risk of catching Covid-19 by not wearing a mask.

Also citation needed for that one.

I've reviewed the literature, and if anything, even thou there is low evidence, if you used a surgical mask properly there is a chance that if you have the virus, the probability of you passing it to others will decrease, not the other way around.

I've seen studies that used surgical masks to try to prevent those using the masks to get infected, and they never found any real reduction to the rate of infection.

If you're a serious case, the costs of your care will be very high, and you're now a burden to rest of us.

Same thing for any other transmissible illness, but people do not seem to care about any other illness, yet, I've never seen this argument for any other transmissible illness.

Also, if anything, this makes a good case for allowing private healthcare in this country. If governments are going to control my life based on things like healthcare costs because we are forced to use a socialized health care system with no alternative, I would like to opt out of that system.

What if you don't wear a mask and you're wrong? What if you wear a mask and you're wrong? One hurts you and others. The other doesn't hurt at all.

Actually, one of the reasons I personally don't use one is because there are possible harms associated to mask wearing. There is evidence that people who wear masks feel safer and stop taking other more relevant measures, if what you care is about virus transmission.

Mask usage muffles the human voice, which means that people have to be closer in order to hear each other, and this is specially worrying for the elderly, which many of them have already low hearing.

Mask usage, if not used properly, can actually cause a higher infection rate, because of things like constantly touching your face, accumulation of moisture in long term usage, among other reasons.

Here is the thing, unlike you, I'm not going to tell you what to do. If you think you should use a mask, then go ahead and use one, I mean, I might think it is unnecessary, but I'm not the one to tell you that.

Not to mention, I'm not going to try to guilt trip you with a "What if you are wrong?" scenario, in which I can blame you for higher infection rates, and other mask wearing related harm possibilities.

And that's the thing that most angers me about this discussion, it is a assume benefits ignore risks absolutist discussion, in which basically being skeptical about measures that have yet to be proved efficient, and in the first place necessary, for many mask radicals is almost like heresy.

It's really painful to see people being so smug and self righteous about something that, once again, doesn't even has hard evidence, but still try to paint anyone who for any reason is not in favor of a blanket mask wearing policy as, like you said, "not logical", and worse insults.

If people were really worried about transmission, then they would stay at home. But what I see is that masks are more like a replacement for the stay at home policy, with the hope that it will be just as or more effective.

Masks, even if they do work, are not going to completely prevent infections, just reduce them, and the amount that gets reduced, from the low evidence studies on the subject, is not really that significant, specially when you have a widespread virus that is not going to go anywhere any time soon.

A policy like this MIGHT have had some point very early when the virus was discovered, to prevent as much as possible spread, in order to make the virus disappear. It is too late for that, and people need to be realistic and stop thinking that we are going to be able to make this virus disappear. It is not going to happen, this virus is here to stay.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@Tokyo-Engr That was a very interesting video. However there was no information about air coming from someone just breathing. I won't be talking to anyone who isn't a friend or family that closely. And just breathing to truly share my air I better be on a Tokyo train at rush hour. But even better, right below your video I saw this article: Asymptomatic Spread of COVID-19 Can Occur But Is 'Very Rare,’ Reveals WHO

https://interestingengineering.com/asymptomatic-spread-of-covid-19-can-occur-but-is-very-rare-reveals-who

And I am right back to where I started in my statement that its actually hand sanitizing that is important and coughing people should not be out but if they are THEY should wear a mask. I just don't feel masks are effective for the general public.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Interesting article by Peter Hitchens on them

Never heard of him but that one article clearly shows that he is garbage for a journalist. Might explain why he works for the Daily Mail. So very many words but precious little doing anything to prove the headline of the article. The only evidence he offers that it was political lobbying is a brief statement by one person saying "it was political lobbying". Really? By who? On what dates? At what conferences? Nothing. Not even a "maybe it was so and so". Complete trash. That guy does not seem fit to write a third grade book report on "The Cat in the Hat".

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

If you’re not wearing a mask during a global pandemic, you are ignorant, selfish or both. Period. Full stop.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

If you’re not wearing a mask during a global pandemic, you are ignorant, selfish or both. Period. Full stop.

Did you wear a mask in the previous 2009-2010 H1N1 global pandemic?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

“Never heard of him but that one article clearly shows that he is garbage for a journalist.”

Oh did he pop your bubble then.

This guy conclusively debunks every piece of lockdown propaganda

https://youtu.be/6RDffMCAujg

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What is the problem with people not wearing a mask ? It is at worst inconvenient. But better be safe than sorry.

And to reply to Luis, I don't know which literature are you reading but you should change your sources because you are completely wrong. Surgical Mask reduce the infection rate. They are not 100% efficient, but reduce the contamination of other by more than 90% and protect yourself at around 30%. And if you want to protect yourself better you still can with FFP2 mask that protect you at a rate that is higher than 80%. ç

We are 90 persons at my office. There was a Covid Case and since it is mandatory for everyone to wear a mask, there was no transmission and no cluster.

There many studies that say that transmission (mask to mask) are almost inexistent.

Don't be a dick and wear a mask.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I never wear a mask. Don’t give a hoot in hell about people’s opinions. Gonna make me wear one? Good luck!

0 ( +5 / -5 )

“There many studies that say that transmission (mask to mask) are almost inexistent.”

And others that show it’s inconclusive

https://italicsmag.com/2020/07/21/should-face-masks-be-compulsory/

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Very simple, Nope. Don’t like it, don’t feel comfortable and don’t wear it. If I’m around elderly, I do, but other than that Unless I really have to, nope.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

No I am not a sheeple. I have choices and I utilize my freedom and rights.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

“Unless I really have to, nope.”

Same

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Masks also lower the viral load you would get, even if you are infected. This alone can make the difference between having mild symptoms and dying from Covid-19.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Cristopher Give me some real studies not a random blog on the internet.

http://files.fast.ai/papers/masks_lit_review.pdf

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0843-2

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200612172200.htm 

Those are real studies that say that mask efficiely reduce droplet. And droplets is the main transmission factor in this case.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Are you OK with wearing a mask when you are out and about as a measure to protect yourself against the coronavirus?

What kind of nonsensical headline is this? The standard masks everybody wears are a courtesy measure to protect others, not to protect yourself.

I wear them when I take the subway or go shopping, otherwise not. Certainly not out in the open, which so clearly ridiculous.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I have NO problems with those who do not want to wear a mask as long as they STAY HOME.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I don’t wear one to protect myself, however I do wear a mask and have since the beginning of March. I work with kids and every year by this time I’ve had two or three colds. This year nothing. Purely anecdotal I know but people being more careful as well as wearing masks probably has something to do with it. I’m going to continue wearing a mask because I’m sure that wearing a mask has a positive effect on others.

As you mention that people are being more careful as well as wearing masks, I would wager that you are probably being much more fastidious about proper hand washing and sanitizing both your hands and surfaces since the beginning of March than you have been during previous years. As this is the first and most effective line of defense against C-19 and any other influenza or the common cold, I would suspect that might account for your better health this year. It's not only anecdotal, there's not necessarily a correlation.

More important than the divisive issue of masks is the need to do everything possible to boost your immune system to make it capable of warding off contagions of all kinds. Ironically, few are recommending it as an effective line of defense that should stand alongside handwashing and proper sanitization for the public good.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And to reply to Luis, I don't know which literature are you reading but you should change your sources because you are completely wrong. Surgical Mask reduce the infection rate. They are not 100% efficient, but reduce the contamination of other by more than 90% and protect yourself at around 30%. And if you want to protect yourself better you still can with FFP2 mask that protect you at a rate that is higher than 80%.

Once again, citation needed. I've been reading mostly evidence reviews, some by the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine of Oxford University, others by the Sax Institute for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, among others.

And they point to all the relevant studies in their review of the evidence.

Most mask tests that have been done (which aren't that many in the first place) have been done on a medical environment, many aren't even randomized, and many their control group sucks (like the only peer reviewed test on cloth masks, in which the control group was a mixture between people without masks and people with masks, without even taking into account the type of mask or anything).

The only reviews that I've seen that have anything positive to say about mask usage are mostly political in nature, and are trying to give "recommendations" to the government, instead of doing a plain scientific review of the evidence, and their recommendations are basically based in "they might work, so we should use them" ignoring the low evidence for this.

I would ask you, were do you get your info from?, is it a single source, or do you actually look for multiple papers on the literature, and take into account the quality of the evidence they provide?

Because that's what I do.

There many studies that say that transmission (mask to mask) are almost inexistent.

Citation needed.

Masks also lower the viral load you would get, even if you are infected. 

Citation needed.

Those are real studies that say that mask efficiely reduce droplet. And droplets is the main transmission factor in this case.

Masks do stop droplets, but this ignores 2 big points:

if someone is asymptomatic they will not generate to many droplets. Mask usage as a method of stopping droplets is mostly done to avoid contamination of an sterile environment, in the case of people with flu like symptoms, to stop droplets from sneezes and coughs

if we are talking about asymptomatic patients, a review on the evidence shows that asymptomatic patients are not seen as the main carriers of the virus, nor as the main sources of the spread.

The actual transmission dynamics on asymptomatic patients are controversial, specially because the definition of an asymptomatic patient is kind of all over the place. If we see an asymptomatic patient as someone who shows positive in a PCR test but doesn't show any symptoms doesn't really, right now it gets counted as a confirmed infection, but the truth of the matter is, PCR tests cannot confirm infections, just if material from the virus was present.

There is actually controversy over the fact that it seems that many of the people who are getting positive results of a PCR were infected but no longer are (meaning, the PCR test shows material of the virus, but the virus is no longer active or able to replicate AKA death), or people who were in contact with the virus but have not actually being infected by it.

So what actually constitutes an asymptomatic patient is not really cristal clear. There are some who are said to be asymptomatic because they show positive in the test, but end up showing symptoms, and they get called "pre-symptomatic".

A review of the evidence has shown that these "pre-symptomatic" are responsible for most of the so called asymptomatic transmissions, and that asymptomatic transmissions are actually quite rare.

What you are saying is basically a theory that, since masks stop droplets it should be effective against SARS-CoV-2, assuming the main transmissions method of SARS-CoV-2 is by droplets, but you require an actual randomized test to be sure about that theory. There isn't one, and since people didn't even cared about coronaviruses before, most of the literature in this respect is mostly based on influenza viruses, which doesn't always translate well with coronaviruses.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Luis David

Gosh dude, when you dig yourself into a hold, you just double down and dig deeper and deeper huh?

Masks are effective. It’s science bro, “before covid” doesn’t really matter at this point, nor what nations who never wore masks, it doesn’t matter how long it took for them to get it.

If Masks were meaningless in stopping droplets they would not be worn by medical professionals.

And since you will still refute that, how about I sneeze near you twice?

Once with a mask, once without. And after that, you can get all scientific and argumentative again.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Masks are effective. It’s science bro

With arguments as strong like that I really wish I didn't spent all that time writing arguments for my position.

If Masks were meaningless in stopping droplets they would not be worn by medical professionals.

I think I myself addressed this point.

For maintaining sterile environments they work. Surgical masks are the only ones, with low evidence thou, that have shown to have any effect with viral infections.

Cloth masks, which is what most people wear in Japan, if anything have been shown to be useless by the scientific literature, with the possibility of being worse than wearing no mask at all.

Before corona, the main reason why people wear masks was to stop pollen, which those masks actually can do.

And since you will still refute that, how about I sneeze near you twice?

Once with a mask, once without. And after that, you can get all scientific and argumentative again.

I present to you the probably foreign concept of "covering your mouth, and looking down when you sneeze".

In some parts of the world before the Corona scare this was though as simple hygiene and common sense.

If done properly, it is more efficient at stopping droplets from going out wild from your mouth, which is why it is recommended even for people wearing a mask.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Luis you are so convinced of your own fallacies...well I hope you don’t get the virus and spread it around because you want to argue that masks are no good.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Covering up isn’t a foreign concept to us here in Japan Luis, cmon, how conceited a comment is that?

You are obviously one of those who argues against masks.

Having a physical barrier between your face is so logically and painfully obvious to most.

Sorry youre stuck in your pre corona mindset.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Luis you are so convinced of your own fallacies

Ok, and you will not make an argument as to how that works, just going to claim I'm wrong, cool.

Covering up isn’t a foreign concept to us here in Japan Luis, cmon, how conceited a comment is that?

I never said Japan, I said for you, because you seem to think that only masks can prevent saliva from sneezes to spread. Not to mention that asymptomatic patients, which are supposedly the whole reason of this thing, are not going to be sneezing like a symptomatic patient.

But none of this really matters, you says it works because it is since, not providing any argumentation, and I just should say that you are right.

Having a physical barrier between your face is so logically and painfully obvious to most.

Then wear a face shield. That is way more of a physical barrier and without micro openings like masks.

Sorry youre stuck in your pre corona mindset.

Sorry if I don't share your panic. I actually care about the science behind stuff.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Go see a doctor Luis

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Luis David Yanez

Sorry if I don't share your panic. I actually care about the science behind stuff.

lol... riiiiight.

First rule about finding yourself in a hole?

Put down the shovel.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Go see a doctor Luis

Learn not to be a douche

lol... riiiiight.

Once again, I've been showing my sources, and I will clarify any question about what exactly I was talking about if you have any problems with my conclusions.

If you know of scientific literature I'm not aware off that would challenge my position, I would be more than happy to read it.

But the way I'm looking this is going, basically this has just gone the road of a name calling competition.

I'm getting basically the same kind of vibe when there were anti-nuclear posts after the Fukushima accident, and I trying to talk about not to panic about nuclear physics, and people just kept on calling me names, and telling me how out of touch I was without many arguments.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@Luis

Give this one up, mate.

I think you dug yourself in a similar hole over the plastic bag charge.

Buy a cloth bag, put a mask on.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Give this one up, mate.

I think you dug yourself in a similar hole over the plastic bag charge.

It sure should be nice to have this mentality in which if someone has an opinion you disagree with they automatically lose.

At the same time, the lack of actual arguments replaced by "you dug yourself in a hole" without giving an argument other than "you are wrong" is kind of scary.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

dear's Government all health care instructions must following is of survival our Great soul.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Vanessa

Here is a study which discusses the effectiveness of masks in preventing virus spread during normal speech. Of course N95 performs best but there is another one which is nearly as good.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/health-wellness/new-study-shows-best-and-worst-face-masks-to-guard-against-coronavirus/793246

1 ( +1 / -0 )

El Rata says;

those at risk shouldn't be outside in the first place.

Remember you said this, when you or a loved one gets hit by a car or indeed by anything or anyone else. And I certainly hope anyone you care about who has a compromised immune system is safely locked away.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm really not that aware of American politics, I'm not American, never lived in America, but after reading this, now I see why people from the US in this section are reacting the way they do:

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/01/masks-politics-coronavirus-227765

It would be nice if Americans living in Japan didn't brought their national politics to this country and tried to politicize a matter that should be for all intent and purposes scientific in nature.

In Japan, discussions about masks are way more civil, and people who have refused to use them, like Horie Takafumi, are allowed to speak their mind without getting bombarded.

Once again, I'm glad I live in Japan in these times.

It seems that in the end when it really matters, Japan is a way more of a free country than the so called "freest country in the world".

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Is this poll still on? Sometimes I believe JT just puts mask articles, polls, etc. Just to stir controversy, it is ckear that neither side will change there opinions.

@Maria

Remember you said this, when you or a loved one gets hit by a car or indeed by anything or anyone else. And I certainly hope anyone you care about who has a compromised immune system is safely locked away.

No one I care for is locked up, if they get the rona, hit by a car or something, it will be sad but we understand that life is a risk and that we cannot live like this forever. We rather live our lives in freedom whether they're short or long, than live in perpetual fear.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I'm not generally fearful, about the virus.

I am fearful of those who downplay it and put their sense of entitlement above the rest of us.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ El Rata

Not sure what "the rona" is but if you are talking about Covid-19 but it is being proven masks are effective at reducing the risk of transmission to others. Of course it does not eliminate the risk but it provides significant risk reduction.

I am older and here in Japan I am happy people around me wear masks. I wear one when I head out the door and putting a mask on has not in any way whatsoever infringed on my freedom.

I would imagine those you care for take risk reduction measures when walking (to avoid being hit by a car) or when driving (wearing a seat belt).

Wearing a mask is similar and I believe it is selfish not to do so when in a crowd, at a store, on a train, etc. as there is a potential of putting others at risk.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Are you OK with wearing a mask when you are out and about?

Yes, why not? Doctors say they help reduce transmission and the reasoning makes sense.

Are you OK with wearing a mask when you are out and about as a measure to protect yourself against the coronavirus?

This is the whole question and I really do not understand why it has to be phrased this way for this poll, i.e., to impose the ""protect yourself" reason. Japanese cold sufferers etc. customarily wear masks out of altruism.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@LDY.

Me thinks you doth protest too much.

Isn't that the worst of sins? Maybe Japan should also implement a law like the one from Hong Kong so that people like me do not protest so much, because protesting is bad.

Not familiar with Shakespeare, eh? Has nothing to do with protests like in HK/elsewhere. It means you're trying very hard to prove to others and to yourself a point that nearly no one else believes. It carries the underlying meaning that your point may very well not hold water, and by extension, disingenuous.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Not familiar with Shakespeare, eh?

As I said countless times, I'm not American, nor English is my first language, I'm not really that familiar with English literature.

If I quote you some line from Octavio Paz or something like that, I don't think you would get it either.

It means you're trying very hard to prove to others and to yourself a point that nearly no one else believes

Telling my opinion, and citing the scientific literature is not trying to prove anything.

It has become very clear that people are just politicizing this whole thing, and do not really care about the science.

It carries the underlying meaning that your point may very well not hold water, and by extension, disingenuous.

That's a new one. Never knew that saying things that may be wrong is being disingenuous.

I always thought that it was a pre requirement to be aware that it is wrong while saying it for it to be disingenuous.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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