Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

japantimes.co.jp

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 430 posts

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#111

Post by JCharante »

crazygringo wrote: post #97
paulddraper wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Almost everybody wear mask when they are sick to avoid contaminating others. The U.S. response is absurd. I went grocery shopping the other day, and despite clear evidence of panic (empty shelves, hurried shoppers, long lines), but not a single person wore a mask. Somehow, everyone is too scared to go to work, but not scared enough to wear a mask. We're on course for the worst depression in history because we don't…

No, we're not wearing masks because we don't HAVE any . I live in Brooklyn and I'd love to wear a mask. I'd love to have been wearing a mask every day for the past two weeks. But where exactly do you suggest I find one since they're sold out literally everywhere , and we're also getting advice not to wear them so they can be saved for healthcare professionals! You ought to reexamine your assumptions. We love masks bu…

Wear a scarf. The OP didn't say criticize people for not wearing mask-alternatives in a time of a shortage, they critized people for not wearing anything. DIY masks may not be as effective, but they still help (some top HN post claimed 70%-80%). This isn't a situation where if you can't do something perfectly you might as well not try. This is a situation that calls for doing anything within reasonable measures (don't raid hospitals for masks etc).

Paper masks are in shortage in Vietnam but that doesn't stop people from wearing big respirator kits or cloth masks that they rotate out.

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#112

Post by kube-system »

deelowe wrote: post #12
klipt wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine if the whole pandemic could have been prevented if we just manufactured masks at a higher rate and everyone wore them. Now even hospitals are running out.

I cannot for the life of me understand why we aren't turning every available textile mill into mask manufacturers right now. It should be trivial to do and clothes aren't a critical item. I'm sure most countries have planned something like this as it's a common need during major wars. We're basically saying that since it's not 100% effective, so it's not worth it. Meanwhile, neither is social distancing, but that's s…

FWIW, this was announced this afternoon. Not sure if any of their plants are still in the US though: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-life-sciences/trump...

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#113

Post by imabluedabbad »

paulddraper wrote: post #105
crazygringo wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, we're not wearing masks because we don't HAVE any . I live in Brooklyn and I'd love to wear a mask. I'd love to have been wearing a mask every day for the past two weeks. But where exactly do you suggest I find one since they're sold out literally everywhere , and we're also getting advice not to wear them so they can be saved for healthcare professionals! You ought to reexamine your assumptions. We love masks bu…

I was referring to either storebought masks or homemade ones. Literally some paper towel, wire, and rubber bands [1]. If you're willing to break out a needle and thread you can make a durable cloth one. [2] [3] > we're also getting advice not to wear them so they can be saved for healthcare professionals! AFAIK, surgical-quality sterilizing masks are separate from what you'd probably find in the store; you're not pul…

Please stop. You have nothing here.

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#114

Post by m3kw9 »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #77

The Japanese smoke more, but see less lung cancer. If we can figure out why, it might cast light on the covid19 pandemic. https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-japanese-lung-cancer-smok...

Maybe check how many smokes they usually do. I know some people in western countries will smoke a pack a day.

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#115

Post by tosser0001 »

mschuster91 wrote: post #103
tosser0001 wrote: post #96

I’ve been wondering the same thing about Massachusetts where I live. We have 416 confirmed cases, 58 requiring hospitalization - it’s unclear how many of those require the ICU. I know of several people who are suspected of having it but have been told to just self quarantine but haven’t been tested, so obviously the infected numbers are much higher. Still we only had our first death yesterday. He was an 87 year old a…

> Is this the beginning of the tsunami Yes. The problem with coronavirus is that young people apparently can be asymptomatic and spread the virus around massively, which means that without mass testing they will continue to spread... and then, detection of symptomatic CV patients takes time, both in that the patients go to testing and that the test gets executed. Unlike countries which have done mass testing for week…

Actually Germany is another strange data point: according to Wikipedia’s sources they have 21,890 confirmed cases and “only” 77 deaths.

This seems dramatically different than Italy’s experience. Italy had over 1400 deaths by that point in their confirmed infection count. Is it how they’re counting? The age group infected?

Honestly, I’m just trying to find a ray of hope here.

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#116

Post by lemoncookiechip »

Personally, and this is my opinion without any evidence to back it up. I believe that this is just a combination of several factors:

- Japan acted sooner than most by closing schools, tightening their borders, informing their citizens and asking for their cooperation.

- Japan's culture is a big factor, people respect and obey their government in general, the use of masks is common place, practicing social distancing is already part of their culture, with no kissing, hugging or handshakes for the most part, the exception being their public transportation, which are well known for how packed they are near the Tokyo area.

- Japan has a good health care system https://www.who.int/whr/2010/en/

Lastly, let us assume that Japan isn't testing everyone they can as suggested by some, as a way to somehow keep the Olympics going.

- Japan has an older population, which is high risk group as we know.

- IF they are in-fact manipulating numbers as some suggested by not testing, than we would be seeing a spike in the death rate for the 60-80+ age groups. Now I can't provide a metric to prove or disprove this and the only thing we can do is wait and see, but I have doubts about the government ignoring their people in-favor of an event that likely won't happen this year or at least not the early half of the year.

EDIT: Lastly and this is a factor that none of us even suggested, is luck. Luck is important and impossible to control.

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#118

Post by [deleted] »

paulddraper wrote: post #105
crazygringo wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, we're not wearing masks because we don't HAVE any . I live in Brooklyn and I'd love to wear a mask. I'd love to have been wearing a mask every day for the past two weeks. But where exactly do you suggest I find one since they're sold out literally everywhere , and we're also getting advice not to wear them so they can be saved for healthcare professionals! You ought to reexamine your assumptions. We love masks bu…

I was referring to either storebought masks or homemade ones. Literally some paper towel, wire, and rubber bands [1]. If you're willing to break out a needle and thread you can make a durable cloth one. [2] [3] > we're also getting advice not to wear them so they can be saved for healthcare professionals! AFAIK, surgical-quality sterilizing masks are separate from what you'd probably find in the store; you're not pul…

[deleted]

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#119

Post by jccalhoun »

It is really amazing how quickly we adapt to things. Earlier today I was watching a twitch streamer from someone at a bar in Japan and I was surprised to see that many strangers close together in one room and thought they were being reckless. A week ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought.

Re: Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

#120

Post by jiofih »

bagacrap wrote: post #76
l_davis wrote: post #50

In Japan, people wear masks so they don't spread their germs. In the US, people want to wear masks to avoid other's germs. Totally different mindset. And in the US we are being discouraged from wearing masks because they don't block the virus from going in even though they could be keeping asymptomatic people from spreading. Well I feel duly embarrassed for not thinking that way earlier. Just ordered some cotton mask…

I do wish US politicians would tell people to go back to work, but wear operation masks.

There are a lot of misconceptions about masks. They are not effective for protection if not paired with eye protection. Plus viruses and bacteria actually cling to it, and lay people not used to wearing one will end up touching it way too often (try it, you’ll immediately realize how hard it is to not touch it).
Post reply on HN