Flu spreads in Osaka/Kobe – JR West employees wearing masks
JR West had been using a “smile checking” device at a few stations to encourage employees to always force themselves to smile, but now that the swine flu has hit Kansai, they’re replacing smiles with masks.
Here’s a video news report from TBS news about the situation in Osaka and Kobe:
The report includes the following details:
- JR West has instructed its employees to wear masks.
- Travelers interviewed said that they were wearing masks to protect themselves from the flu.
- A shopping area was not very crowded, and many of the people shopping were wearing masks. (But one woman said she was not worried because it was about the same as normal flu.)
- Cram schools were closed because of the flu outbreak.
- At a baseball game being held at the Osaka Dome, mask-wearing fans were disappointed that “jet balloons” had been banned.
- A movie theater had placed bottles of alcohol spray in its bathrooms to help customers wash their hands. They are also ready to distribute masks upon request.
- KidZania has installed cameras that scan the body temperature of visitors. Staff have been told to wear masks and free masks are also being given to visitors.
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