Japan panel says masks not mandatory for children outdoors

TokYO Kyodo masks worn outdoors is not always necessary, even if sufficient social distancing cannot be maintained, according to a Japanese government panel of experts on COVID 19 measures.

The panel, headed by Japan's top coronavirus adviser Shigeru Omi, said elementary school students should not wear masks when outdoors during physical education classes or recess as long as distancing is maintained.

It marks the first time that the health ministry's expert panel has clarified its position on the necessity of wearing masks outdoors. Public debate is arising over how much longer people need to wear facecoverings to combat the coronaviruses, as mask requirements have been easing overseas in line with progress in vaccinations against COVID - 19.

Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary, said last week wearing masks outdoors to protect against the coronaviruses is not necessary as social distancing is practiced with the approaching summer increasing the risk of heatstroke.

The panel said people should still wear masks on crowded public transport, and that they should bring a mask to wear when it gets crowded outside or during conversations.

The panel recommended preschool children wear masks for two years and over wear masks in February due to the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus. But Omi said concerns had been raised that the infants would suffer from heat-related conditions or become stunted in their development due to difficulties in reading facial expressions.

It is time to consider returning to not uniformly requiring the wear of masks, according to Omi.