- 18 Jan 2005
- 11,682
- 3,638
"Influenza Outbreak" Hits Year-End Party Season... Resembling the COVID Era with "Infection Control" Once Again.
As influenza cases surge nationwide, familiar scenes reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic are making a comeback: alcohol-based sanitizers, non-contact thermometers, and acrylic partitions. We interviewed people adopting various methods to prevent infections during this outbreak.
December 21st, Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture
Bankisha!
"Wow, there are so many people here. The admission has started, but the sheer crowd is overwhelming."
Bankisha!
"Some people are entering dressed in cosplay like this. Perfectly done!"
The event being held was the annual festival for the manga magazine Jump. One of the main attractions was the opportunity to meet popular voice actors up close.
However, fans were disappointed.
Fan (18):
"I came here specifically for the voice actors, but they couldn't attend due to health issues… It's so sad, so incredibly sad. I really wanted to meet them."
Soma Saito, Yuma Uchida, and Chiaki Kobayashi—three popular voice actors—were unable to participate in the event due to influenza infections.
Bankisha!
"How did you feel when you heard the news?"
Fan (20):
"I was shocked. I couldn't believe influenza was spreading so much. That realization was also shocking."
According to data on the number of influenza patients per medical institution, as of the week ending December 15th, 42 prefectures exceeded the "advisory level" of 10 cases per institution. In Fukuoka and Oita Prefectures, cases surpassed the "warning level" of 30. The national average was 19.06, more than double the previous week.
Bankisha!'s coverage revealed scenes reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bankisha!
"After eating… masks go back on."
At a pub in Yokohama on the 21st, a representative wore a tense expression during what should have been a busy year-end party season.
Restaurant Representative:
"We've already prepared the food—enough for 16 people."
Adjustments to group reservations continued up until the day of the event.
Restaurant Representative:
"Did group sizes shrink last week too?"
Restaurant Manager:
"We had a complete cancellation. One person in the group tested positive."
Restaurant Representative:
"Oh, I see."
Bankisha!
"What caused the cancellation?"
Restaurant Manager:
"It was influenza. They decided to cancel entirely this time."
Cancellations due to illness were piling up. The day before, a party of 20 had canceled on the day of their reservation. This left dishes like tuna sashimi and roast beef, prepared for the course menu, unused.
Restaurant Representative:
"Charging cancellation fees is a difficult issue. Given the reason, there's not much we can do but accept it."
"Same-day and group cancellations weren't this common in 2023. It feels rather unusual."
The spread of influenza has also impacted individuals.
Bankisha!
"Here's someone wearing a mask at their table. They lower it only while eating and put it back on afterward."
This behavior is a return to the "masked dining" etiquette encouraged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masked Diner:
"Influenza is widespread around me, so I feel like I have to be careful myself."
Bankisha!
"But you still feel you can't skip year-end parties?"
Masked Diner:
"Yes, relationships are important, even if it means wearing a mask."
The surge in influenza cases has alarmed some learning centers.
Kazuyuki Ueda, Head of Ueda Juku:
"Influenza has picked up rapidly this week."
"For 9th graders, losing even one week of study at this crucial stage could cause significant delays."
This is a critical time for exam preparation. To counter the risk, Ueda retrieved something from storage:
Bankisha!
"You hadn't been using this?"
Headmaster:
"No, I'd hoped we wouldn't need them anymore."
They brought back the acrylic barriers used during the COVID-19 pandemic and installed contactless thermometers at the entrance.
In the first lesson using the acrylic barriers, some students accidentally touched or knocked them over, leading to minor disruptions. The school is taking every possible precaution to prevent further spread of the virus.
On the 21st, a pharmacy in Tokyo was also struggling with the effects of the outbreak.
Takagi Pharmacy:
"We had 20 tablets in stock, but they're all gone now."
The shelves for cough medicine were empty, exacerbated by pre-existing shortages. There's no clear timeline for resupply.
Characteristics of the 2024 Influenza Outbreak:
Dr. Tsuyoshi Tamura, Tamura Clinic:
"Many patients are presenting with severe coughing. Some cases involve particularly intense coughing."
"Cough etiquette has been somewhat forgotten, but I urge everyone to practice it. Preventing the spread is crucial."
(From the December 22, 2024, broadcast of "Shinsō Hōdō Bankisha!")
As influenza cases surge nationwide, familiar scenes reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic are making a comeback: alcohol-based sanitizers, non-contact thermometers, and acrylic partitions. We interviewed people adopting various methods to prevent infections during this outbreak.
December 21st, Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture
Bankisha!
"Wow, there are so many people here. The admission has started, but the sheer crowd is overwhelming."
Bankisha!
"Some people are entering dressed in cosplay like this. Perfectly done!"
The event being held was the annual festival for the manga magazine Jump. One of the main attractions was the opportunity to meet popular voice actors up close.
However, fans were disappointed.
Fan (18):
"I came here specifically for the voice actors, but they couldn't attend due to health issues… It's so sad, so incredibly sad. I really wanted to meet them."
Soma Saito, Yuma Uchida, and Chiaki Kobayashi—three popular voice actors—were unable to participate in the event due to influenza infections.
Bankisha!
"How did you feel when you heard the news?"
Fan (20):
"I was shocked. I couldn't believe influenza was spreading so much. That realization was also shocking."
According to data on the number of influenza patients per medical institution, as of the week ending December 15th, 42 prefectures exceeded the "advisory level" of 10 cases per institution. In Fukuoka and Oita Prefectures, cases surpassed the "warning level" of 30. The national average was 19.06, more than double the previous week.
Bankisha!'s coverage revealed scenes reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bankisha!
"After eating… masks go back on."
At a pub in Yokohama on the 21st, a representative wore a tense expression during what should have been a busy year-end party season.
Restaurant Representative:
"We've already prepared the food—enough for 16 people."
Adjustments to group reservations continued up until the day of the event.
Restaurant Representative:
"Did group sizes shrink last week too?"
Restaurant Manager:
"We had a complete cancellation. One person in the group tested positive."
Restaurant Representative:
"Oh, I see."
Bankisha!
"What caused the cancellation?"
Restaurant Manager:
"It was influenza. They decided to cancel entirely this time."
Cancellations due to illness were piling up. The day before, a party of 20 had canceled on the day of their reservation. This left dishes like tuna sashimi and roast beef, prepared for the course menu, unused.
Restaurant Representative:
"Charging cancellation fees is a difficult issue. Given the reason, there's not much we can do but accept it."
"Same-day and group cancellations weren't this common in 2023. It feels rather unusual."
The spread of influenza has also impacted individuals.
Bankisha!
"Here's someone wearing a mask at their table. They lower it only while eating and put it back on afterward."
This behavior is a return to the "masked dining" etiquette encouraged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masked Diner:
"Influenza is widespread around me, so I feel like I have to be careful myself."
Bankisha!
"But you still feel you can't skip year-end parties?"
Masked Diner:
"Yes, relationships are important, even if it means wearing a mask."
The surge in influenza cases has alarmed some learning centers.
Kazuyuki Ueda, Head of Ueda Juku:
"Influenza has picked up rapidly this week."
"For 9th graders, losing even one week of study at this crucial stage could cause significant delays."
This is a critical time for exam preparation. To counter the risk, Ueda retrieved something from storage:
Bankisha!
"You hadn't been using this?"
Headmaster:
"No, I'd hoped we wouldn't need them anymore."
They brought back the acrylic barriers used during the COVID-19 pandemic and installed contactless thermometers at the entrance.
In the first lesson using the acrylic barriers, some students accidentally touched or knocked them over, leading to minor disruptions. The school is taking every possible precaution to prevent further spread of the virus.
On the 21st, a pharmacy in Tokyo was also struggling with the effects of the outbreak.
Takagi Pharmacy:
"We had 20 tablets in stock, but they're all gone now."
The shelves for cough medicine were empty, exacerbated by pre-existing shortages. There's no clear timeline for resupply.
Characteristics of the 2024 Influenza Outbreak:
Dr. Tsuyoshi Tamura, Tamura Clinic:
"Many patients are presenting with severe coughing. Some cases involve particularly intense coughing."
"Cough etiquette has been somewhat forgotten, but I urge everyone to practice it. Preventing the spread is crucial."
(From the December 22, 2024, broadcast of "Shinsō Hōdō Bankisha!")
