In Japan, it is now official, the eighth wave of Covid-19 has started, while for the past month, foreign tourists from all over the world have once again been welcome in the archipelago. The problem is that many do not claim to wear a mask. However, the Japanese, they have not discovered their face for nearly three years. In the tourist districts, this contrast causes tensions.
With our correspondent in Tokyo, Bruno Duval
According to epidemiologists, the eighth wave is going to be terrifying “. However, most of the tourists that we meet in the streets of the Shibuya district do not wear a mask. To the chagrin of traders: “ Unfortunately, the law does not allow us to refuse unmasked customers. Result: we stress all day long at the idea of being contaminated “, explains this trader.
For this other trader, the return of tourists is a boon for his store: “ The return of foreigners saves me, financially, because I was close to bankruptcy because of these borders that remained closed for so long. Afterwards, it’s clear that with such careless tourists, I’m putting my health at risk. On a daily basis, it is complicated to manage. »
On social networks, calls for the departure of tourists are increasing
Some passers-by, in any case, do not appreciate forgetting the mask, like this woman: ” It’s foolishness not to wear a mask. And it’s antisocial “. Another passer-by does not understand that tourists can break the rules of the country while another passer-by says bluntly: ” Let them go home and stay there. »
” go home ! », (« go home ” in English, editor’s note), this is also what we read more and more on social networks, which make the link between the return of tourists and the increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 since October 11. , the day the archipelago reopened its borders to foreign tourists. At the time, 27% of those polled opposed it, they are now more than 40%.
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