![](https://i.imgur.com/CLvY2jA.png")
24-01-2022, 01:34 PM
Suvendrini Kakuchi
24 Jan 2022 06:00AM
(Updated: 24 Jan 2022 06:00AM)
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Despite a resurgence of cases driven by the Omicron variant, coronavirus numbers are still low compared to most Western nations. As of mid-January, Japan has reported around 1.9 million COVID-19 cases and close to 18,500 deaths. On the other hand, the United Kingdom - which has a population half of Japan's - has reported more than 15 million cases with 152,000 fatalities.
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Several reasons have been suggested for Japan's ability to keep COVID-19 relatively under control.
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"Japanese people are comfortable wearing masks and washing their hands, two crucial factors in virus mitigation. They also tend to follow the rules," said Professor Yoshiaki Katsuda of Kansai University of Social Welfare in Osaka.
"Overall, these habits, ingrained since childhood in schools and at home, have been highly effective."
Katsuda, an expert in travel medicine, added that wearing medical masks when one has the common cold or cough is viewed as good etiquette in Japanese society.
"As children we are taught to protect others from catching our diseases by keeping a social distance. It is almost equated to a civic duty," he explained.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/jap...ty-2451221
24 Jan 2022 06:00AM
(Updated: 24 Jan 2022 06:00AM)
......
Despite a resurgence of cases driven by the Omicron variant, coronavirus numbers are still low compared to most Western nations. As of mid-January, Japan has reported around 1.9 million COVID-19 cases and close to 18,500 deaths. On the other hand, the United Kingdom - which has a population half of Japan's - has reported more than 15 million cases with 152,000 fatalities.
......
Several reasons have been suggested for Japan's ability to keep COVID-19 relatively under control.
......
"Japanese people are comfortable wearing masks and washing their hands, two crucial factors in virus mitigation. They also tend to follow the rules," said Professor Yoshiaki Katsuda of Kansai University of Social Welfare in Osaka.
"Overall, these habits, ingrained since childhood in schools and at home, have been highly effective."
Katsuda, an expert in travel medicine, added that wearing medical masks when one has the common cold or cough is viewed as good etiquette in Japanese society.
"As children we are taught to protect others from catching our diseases by keeping a social distance. It is almost equated to a civic duty," he explained.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/jap...ty-2451221
