how masks, hand-washing helped Japan prevent heavy death toll

Coronavirus: how masks, hand-washing helped Japan prevent heavy death tolls
Face-coverings have long been part of everyday life in Japan but they will not be enough for the country to maintain its record on containing the virus
As the country inches toward resuming activities, it needs to stamp out clusters faster than ever to fend off a second wave of infections
Bloomberg
Bloomberg

The vice-chairman of the expert panel, Shigeru Omi, has said that strong health consciousness among the Japanese helped keep the outbreak under control. What did he mean by health consciousness, and how does this differ from other countries?
There’s strong awareness of public hygiene, starting with the habit of washing our hands. And, due to historical experiences, there is widespread knowledge about preventing infections.

Another social factor is that Japanese people feel comfortable wearing masks on a daily basis. Many people are allergic to pollen, so they do this during the cedar pollen season from the beginning of the year until spring, as well as to protect against influenza.

Cluster surveillance has enabled us to ascertain what situations and places present a high risk. We have found out that wearing masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing and avoiding talking loudly are effective in preventing transmission.
A second wave is very possible, so we need to detect clusters faster than before. We also need to use the antigen testing we have developed, alongside PCR testing, to find cases before symptoms become serious.