Coronavirus: face masks not needed outside if you’re social distancing, Japan’s government says

A spokesman for the Japanese government said masks were not necessary outside if proper distancing precautions are observed – especially as temperatures rise
Unlike elsewhere, Japan’s government did not introduce a mask mandate and has relied on the public to wear face coverings on a voluntary basis

Coronavirus pandemic

Bloomberg

Published: 3:02pm, 11 May 2022

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Japan’s top government spokesman said people do not need to wear masks outside provided they are taking proper distancing precautions, after a medical expert floated the idea that face coverings were no longer necessary in outdoor settings.

Masks play a key role in lowering infection risks, so they should be worn when people cannot maintain distance outdoors, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday at a press conference in Tokyo. But when able to keep a distance from others, people do not necessarily need to wear masks – especially considering the risks of heatstroke as temperatures rise, he said.

Matsuno was responding to questions about remarks made the previous day by Haruo Ozaki, head of the Tokyo Medical Association, who was quoted by local media as calling on the government to reconsider rules about wearing masks outside. The call coincides with Japan’s plans to reopen the country to tourists, who have been shut out for most of the coronavirus pandemic.

Holidaymakers wearing face masks dig for clams on a beach in Yokohama last month during Japan’s ‘Golden Week’ holiday. Photo: AP

Unlike other countries where mask mandates are hotly contested issues, the Japanese government has relied on the public to wear face coverings on a voluntary basis, with most people willing to do so given they have been a common accessory for those with colds or allergies since before the pandemic.

Mask requirements have been easing worldwide in line with progress in vaccinations against Covid-19. The United States has lifted a federal mask mandate and the use of masks is no longer required in Britain and France.

We recommend that people take off their masks outside as long as sufficient distance is maintained

Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary

“We recommend that people take off their masks outside as long as sufficient distance is maintained, especially when temperatures and humidity are high,” Matsuno said.

“Experts say high-risk behaviour, such as talking to people in close proximity without masks, should be avoided. Proper mask-wearing is necessary if you cannot maintain enough distance with others outside and talk with them.”

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Separately, the Sankei newspaper reported on Wednesday that the government is planning to ease its limit on international arrivals to 20,000 per day as soon as June 1, double the current cap of 10,000. A final decision will be made after seeing whether infection numbers go up after last week’s Golden Week holiday.

The number of infections has been stabilising in Japan and the government is considering further relaxing its border controls to bring them in line with those of the other Group of Seven countries. Curbs on activity imposed under a coronavirus state of emergency were fully lifted across Japan in late March.

Additional reporting by Kyodo

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