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Ask The Travel Doctor-TMVC

Q: I just returned for a holiday and we saw people in airports in Hong Kong and Tokyo wearing masks? What is that all about?        

Charles,  Alphington

 

A:  This is a very common practice across Asia, and a good one!  While some folks are scared of picking up respiratory germs, many people in Asia recognize that their coughs and sneezes can be infectious to others, and so may well decide to wear a mask while traveling on public transport. Generally public transport and waiting queues are very crowded, and public health authorities have emphasized in the community a very helpful way of reducing community spread of germs is by encouraging people with symptoms to wear a mask.

After the SARS outbreak in 2003, it was particularly common for people in China, Japan, Singapore and Korea to wear a mask when in public, mainly to protect themselves from getting ill.
Certainly wearing a mask when we are symptomatic makes sense, and is probably a habit we should all get into.        

 Dr Tony

 

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