> why Japanese and Taiwan infection and severity rates remain comparatively low
Wearing face masks in public places.. indoors and outdoors. Social distancing is non existent considering how crowded places can be.
The same story applies to China, Hong Kong, Macau and S. Korea as well as some countries in SE Asia like Vietnam. Face mask wearing is culturally acceptable/normal in this part of the world so that's why people there started wearing them as soon as stuff started kicking off in Jan 2020 without their governments telling them.
People on HN are arguing over scientific papers on whether face masks are effective. You don't need scientific papers when these countries are proof that face mask wearing is effective.
Less people infected, lower chance of mutations. You will not hear about new SARS-COV-2 variants first being detected in these countries.
Wearing face masks in public places.. indoors and outdoors. Social distancing is non existent considering how crowded places can be.
The same story applies to China, Hong Kong, Macau and S. Korea as well as some countries in SE Asia like Vietnam. Face mask wearing is culturally acceptable/normal in this part of the world so that's why people there started wearing them as soon as stuff started kicking off in Jan 2020 without their governments telling them.
People on HN are arguing over scientific papers on whether face masks are effective. You don't need scientific papers when these countries are proof that face mask wearing is effective.
Less people infected, lower chance of mutations. You will not hear about new SARS-COV-2 variants first being detected in these countries.