Spread of new type pneumonia infection Major railway companies wear customers with unusual masks February 21 21:14

In response to the spread of the new coronavirus infection in China, major railway companies have begun taking measures that can be said to be unusual in the industry, such as wearing masks on station staff.

According to railway companies, it is customary not to wear masks when station staff attends customers because they cannot see their facial expressions or have difficulty hearing their voices.

In response to the spread of the new coronavirus, most railway companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area have recommended and instructed crew, such as station staff and drivers, to wear masks.

Of these, Keihin Kyuko, which connects Haneda Airport to the city center, obliges all station staff working at Shinagawa Station and Yokohama Station, used by many people, including Haneda Airport, to wear masks, and station staff at other stations. Is recommended to wear a mask.

At Shinagawa Station, all station staff masked out, responding to announcements and transferring passengers. Also, according to the company, it was said that this was the first time that a mask was obligated to be worn, and a sticker was posted at the window at Shinagawa Station to inform users that station staff were wearing a mask.

In addition, the company instructs all employees to thoroughly wash their hands and gargle, and also places sheets that can be disinfected with alcohol in the offices of train stations.

A spokeswoman Takuro Sekine of the Keihin Kyuko Public Relations Department said, "Because station staff are in contact with many people, we first want to take thorough precautions to prevent the spread of infection."

Secretary-General "Request for increased production of masks Work to reduce stock shortage"

At a press conference in the afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan recognized that masks, whose demand was increasing due to the spread of infection, were in short supply, and said, `` On March 28, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry decided to increase production. Following the request, the companies have been reported to be increasing production 24 hours a day, and will continue to work closely to understand the situation of production and distribution and to reduce shortages as soon as possible. I want to. "

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga said that the target area for the measures to deny entry was Hubei, China. "According to the Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO), infections in Hubei were the most serious. Based on the evidence and the fact that many infected people in Japan have stayed in Hubei Province, we have decided that it would be appropriate to target Hubei Province. "

He further revealed that eight foreigners had been denied entry by the second day.