Text by Miduho Morita (2020/11/12) Translated by Miho S. Narrated by Heba (2020/11/16)
●It's getting colder now that November has arrived! Recently Japan is witnessing a third wave of COVID-19 infections, with over a thousand new cases every day.
●In what situations people are more likely to be infected by COVID-19?
In the past, we were advised to avoid the 3 Cs; Closed spaces with poor ventilation, Crowded places, and closed contact settings.
However, considering the increasing number of infections, epidemiologists in Japan came up with 5 situations in which people are at higher risk of being infected by COVID-19.
Situation 1) Eating while drinking alcohol
People who drink alcohol tend to be less cautious and might ignore following the preventive measures against COVID-19.
Situation 2) Eating with many people for a long time
Eating with a large group of people makes you tend to speak louder. Yet, eating stimulates saliva overproduction, and the chances of the spread of spit droplets increase.
Situation 3) Conversing with others without wearing a mask
There is a chance of being infected through respiratory droplets consisting of saliva or mucus coming from other people's mouths or noses when you are talking to them without wearing a mask.
Situation 4) Living with others
People tend to be less cautious in the places where they live, or around people they live with. Many people were infected with COVID-19 by people they are living with, such as family members, especially in small apartments, or roommates such as in a students’ dormitory.
Situation 5) When you are taking a break
Break rooms, smoking areas, and changing rooms are places where there is a potential for infected carriers of COVID-19 to come into contact with others or contaminate surfaces. Many people were infected by COVID-19 during their break time.
●Be aware that many people tested positive for COVID-19 and did not show any symptoms.
Please be careful not to be infected by COVID-19 or transmit it to others.
Source:
新型コロナウイルス感染症対策分科会
「分科会から政府への提言」2020/10/23
https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/ful/bunkakai/teigen_12_1.pdf
ABEMA TIMES 2020/11/10(火)
感染拡大の“減少要因”を“増加要因”が上回る可能性
…政府の新型コロナ分科会が「5つのアクション」を緊急提言