From Abenomics to Abenomask: Japan Mask Plan Meets With Derision
- Japan PM to distribute cloth masks to 50 million households
- ‘Abenomask’ trends as online users mock plans as insufficient
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In a country where people have long covered their faces to protect against allergies and avoid spreading disease, masks were the first thing to disappear from Japanese store shelves when the coronavirus started to hit.
In the latest attempt to assuage concerns over the shortage, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced plans on Wednesday to distribute two reusable cloth masks per household, to about 50 million addresses in the country.