Is it time to remove the mask?

It's been exactly two years since the first state of emergency was declared in April.

I have entered my third year of life where I can't let go of my mask.

The sixth wave of infection has passed its peak, and in the coming hot season, many people are thinking, "When will I not have to wear a mask?"

"Is it time to remove the mask?"

This time I thought about such a question.

(Science and Culture Department, Yuta Mizuno, Social Affairs Department, Ayumu Takahashi)

How about a mask?

How do people in the city feel about masks?

I talked to 50 people in Shibuya, Tokyo, and tried to find out what they really meant.

As a result, 32 people answered "I don't want to put it on", 16 people answered "I don't want to put it on", and 2 people answered "I can't decide".

(People who answered "Turn on")

"I'm sorry if people around me get infected."

"It's getting easier to put on people."

(People who answered "I don't want to put on.")

"It's more comfortable not to put it on."

"I don't want to put it on. I don't really understand the other person's face."

On the other hand, some people say it's hard to decide.

(People who can't decide)

"I have a feeling that I can't put it on because everyone is doing it, but I really don't want to put on my make-up because it's painful."

Changes in children's lives

While there are various opinions about masks among adults, the effects of prolonged mask life are spreading to children.

When I visited the school site, I came across a scene that was not seen before the corona infection.

I visited Kikukawa Elementary School in Sumida Ward, Tokyo.

We have asked children to wear masks at school according to the ward's guidelines.

Two years ago, the first grader who entered the school wearing a mask is being promoted to the third grader this month.

I asked the children what they thought about the continuation of their mask life ...

(3rd grade child)

"I'm used to the mask because I've been doing it for a long time."

"I'm used to it, but it's easier to talk and I can understand the movement of people's mouths.

" One of the lessons that influenced me was music.

For the past two years, in music classes, we couldn't even sing together, let alone play instruments such as harmonica with the mask off.

However, there was a change in the first class in the new year.

For the first time after enrolling, I decided to sing in class.

If there are no priority measures such as a state of emergency or prevention of spread, we decided based on the new ward's guideline that we can sing after taking measures such as masks.

And the children sang "Small World".

Instead of singing in front of everyone side by side, divide the class into half groups and reduce the number of people singing at one time, then spread out in a "U" shape in the classroom and take a distance.

And I was singing to the wall and windows with my mask on.

(3rd grade child)

"It was fun to sing with everyone for the first time."

"It's hard to sing with the mask on, but I can sing."

"I was looking at the wall, but I saw how everyone was singing. The

teacher also felt the need to get closer to the original form of the lesson while feeling the changes in the children.

(Teacher in charge of music)

"I can see how the children are having fun. However, I didn't have much voice because I didn't have many opportunities to sing. How important is the experience of singing and playing together. I've been keenly aware of this for the past two years. I've been thinking about various ways to do it instead, but in the future I feel it's important to take measures and create opportunities like before. "

The principal says that it may still take some time in school life to completely remove the mask.

(Principal Hiromi Kakinuma)

"Each teacher is trying to find out what they can do instead of being unable to do it. However, it is important not to let the virus enter the school or take it home, so wear a mask. Isn't it difficult to alleviate this easily? I think it's important to continue to wear it when it's needed and remove it when it's not needed, according to the guidelines set in detail for each situation. " ..

“Thinking about the impact on the future of children”

Preschool children are more concerned about the effects of masks.

There are voices from the field of childcare that it may have a serious impact on development.

"When I feed a baby food, an adult imitates it and makes me remember it, but I swallowed it without being able to show my mouth with a mask.

" (Childcare worker)

Professor Masako Meiwa of Kyoto University Graduate School, who is familiar with the development of children's brains, says that the effects of wearing masks on children cannot be overlooked.

(Professor Meiwa)

"It is necessary to understand that children's brains are not miniature versions of adults. Before school, look at the richly moving facial expressions of the person in front of you at a time important for brain development. Learn while understanding the state of the human mind. Even after school, development occurs in another part of the brain that makes images and inferences. To improve the ability to understand the other person's mind, the facial expression of the other person Seeing is a clue. The impact of a life that can only be seen by the eyes cannot be underestimated. "

On top of that, he points out that the current rules for wearing masks tend to be adult-centered, and it is necessary to consider the impact on the future of children.

(Professor Meiwa)

"It has already been two years since it has been two years since we have applied the lifestyle from an adult's perspective with a complete brain to children, and it seems that the limit has been reached. It is necessary to consider the risks that can be given to children while it is not clear what kind of effect it will have on children until 10 or 20 years from now. Think of a new lifestyle that allows you to put on and take off masks according to the situation. Is required. "

Western countries to remove the mask

As symbolized by school scenes, masks are thoroughly worn in Japan, but the situation is very different overseas.

Wearing masks was mandatory in Western countries, but it has been relaxed one after another.

In Europe and the United States, I live without a mask, and I'm starting to see the same appearance as before the corona expanded.

What is the status of mask regulations in each country?

Movements to abolish the obligation to wear masks are progressing in each country.

I tried to summarize the situation in Europe and the United States.

《USA》

In the United States, on March 25, 2022, the state of Hawaii ended the obligation to wear masks indoors, and all 50 states are no longer required to wear masks.

In February, the CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provided guidelines that masks should not be worn in principle in areas where the spread of the new coronavirus has settled down.

The number of infected people per day has decreased sharply after the spread of infection exceeded 1 million in January, and has been in the 20,000 to 30,000 range since March.

《UK》

From the end of 2021 to the beginning of 2022, the number of infected people per day exceeded 200,000 and then started to decrease. The obligation to wear a mask has been removed.

The number of infected people in the UK has exceeded 30,000 per day even earlier this month, but the obligation to wear masks remains abolished.

<< France >>

At the end of February, France abolished the obligation to wear masks at museums and restaurants that require the presentation of vaccination certificates.

However, it is still mandatory to wear a mask in public transportation and indoor public places where you are not obliged to show your vaccination certificate.

Almost all masks in Japan

In Japan, it has been called for to wear a mask since the expansion of the corona.

It hasn't been required by law, but almost everyone in the city wears a mask.

Regarding the difference from overseas, Atsuro Hamada, a specially appointed professor at Tokyo Medical University who is familiar with measures against infectious diseases overseas, points out that there is a "difference in the habit of wearing a mask".

(Specially Appointed Professor Hamada)

"Unlike Japan, where many people were reluctant to wear masks before the corona epidemic, there was no custom to wear masks in Europe and the United States, and masks were absolutely necessary for countermeasures. Sometimes there was no choice but to make it mandatory by law. I think that many people are removing masks when that obligation is abolished. In Japan, it was legally mandatory to wear it in the first place. Instead, everyone has come to wear masks naturally in response to calls from the government and experts. I think there is a difference in this background. "

Can you remove it in the current infection situation?

In Japan, the number of infections peaked in early February and continued to decline gradually, but in April, signs of re-expansion began to appear.

Is it possible to remove the mask in the current infection situation?

The number of infected people per day (weekly average) nationwide started to increase from about 39,000 on March 24, and as of April 13, it is close to 50,000.

The number of infected people reached a record high in Akita and Saga prefectures on April 12, and the number is increasing mainly in areas where the infection has not spread compared to the metropolitan areas.

"BA.2", which is said to be more infectious than the Omicron strain "BA.1", is expected to become mainstream soon, and on April 11, these "BA.1" and "BA.2" will be released. The combined type of "XE" was first found in domestic quarantine.

Although "XE" has not yet spread domestically, it is estimated that the spread of infection is 12.6% faster than "BA.2" according to data from the UK health authorities.

The mask is effective and difficult to remove from the infection situation

The new coronavirus is mainly transmitted by flying or tiny flying, and the virus spreads from a few days before the onset.

For this reason, wearing a mask is an effective measure to prevent the spread of infection.

Professor Hamada says that it is difficult to say "you can remove the mask" when the number of infected people is high and the number is increasing.

Regarding the conditions under which the mask can be removed, Professor Hamada said, "When the infection has subsided to a certain extent, I think we can make a call to say,'If this is the case, you can remove the mask in stages.' After the number of infected people has calmed down to some extent, such as the number of infected people falling below 10,000 per day, there are some situations if the third vaccination rate reaches about 60% of the European population. It may be possible to remove the mask with. "

In Europe, an order of magnitude more people have already been infected compared to Japan, and the third vaccination rate is over 60% in each country.

In the United Kingdom and elsewhere, the number of infected people is decreasing and the number of people who become seriously ill is relatively low, which is behind the abolition of the obligation to wear masks.

There are still scenes where you can remove the mask

On the other hand, Professor Hamada says that there are still occasions when he can remove the mask.

Specifically, it is a scene where there are no people around outdoors.

(Professor Hamada)

"Even at this stage, if there are not many people outdoors, the risk of getting infected or getting infected is small, so you can remove the mask, and when you take a walk, etc. There is no problem. On the contrary, it is necessary in the scene where people gather, so it is important to switch flexibly. The scene where you can switch your head from the place where you always have to wear a mask We need to understand that there is. "

Furthermore, Professor Koji Wada of the International University of Health and Welfare, who is a member of the expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, says that masks are not necessary when you do not talk to people around you outdoors.

On top of that, it is important to let people know specifically when it is okay to remove the mask.

"For example, when walking a dog or walking in a residential area where there are not many people when commuting, to understand in what specific situations the risk of infection does not increase even if the mask is removed. Has become important. For the past two years, there has been growing concern that other people may not be able to see or read their facial expressions while wearing a mask. Risk of infection at school. There are some scenes where the risk is low, and if you have a certain distance outdoors, such as during commuting or in physical education classes, you can remove the mask. It will be a time when the risk of heat stroke increases, so remove the mask. It may be necessary to call for good situations. "

Balance between social life and infection control

For the time being, both of them are required to wear masks indoors.

And, in the current infection situation, it is important to wear a mask to prevent infection, especially in places where it is one of the "three dense" of dense, closed, and close, at least for a while. It seems that it will not change during the period.

The way of receiving masks is different for adults and children, and for Europe, America and Japan.

Whether or not to remove the mask is closely related not only to the infection situation, but also to how to balance social life and infection control in each culture and society.

Will it be time to remove the mask in the future?

The answer may not only leave the judgment to experts and politicians, but may also relate to what kind of society we are seeking in the future while coexisting with Corona.