Life felt weird at the height of the Covid pandemic. Everyone wore masks. Anyone who coughed or sneezed was given looks of reprimand. Human communication had become virtual.&nbsp;

It is no wonder if people had trouble adapting to post-pandemic interaction. It would appear natural that people wouldn't forget the old ways of meet and greet. But some people in Japan are taking help from professionals in order to relearn smiling.

“With mask wearing having become the norm, people have had fewer opportunities to smile, and more and more people have developed a complex about it,” Keiko Kawano, a coach at the 'smile education' company Egaoiku told the Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese news outlet.&nbsp;

“Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to making a good smile. I want people to spend time consciously smiling for their physical and mental wellbeing.”

According to Egaoiku, number of applicants rose after media reports of Covid reclassification back in February. Just a month after that, government said masks would be an individual choice.

“I didn’t have opportunities to see people during the coronavirus crisis and didn’t smile in public,” 79-year-old Akiko Takizawa told Mainichi Shumbun newspaper.

“This has reminded me of how important smiling is,” she added..

The smile coaching classes are proving to be popular with women.

Reports say that these classes typically begin&nbsp;with stretches to relieve facial tension. Then the participants raise their handheld mirrors to eye level. Then they flex parts of their face in accordance with Kawano's instructions.

“A smile is only a smile if it’s conveyed,” she told her students in Yokohama, according to the Japan Times. “Even if you’re thinking about smiling or that you’re happy, if you have no expression, it won’t reach your audience.”

Kawano is a familiar face on TV and social media. Till now, she has provided coaching to more than 4000 people to teach them the art of smiling. The report&nbsp;further said that Kawano has also helped hundreds of others become certified 'smile specialists'. The Guardian said that Kawano now oversees 20 trainers who run classes across Japan. 
 
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Life felt weird at the height of the Covid pandemic. Everyone wore masks. Anyone who coughed or sneezed was given looks of reprimand. Human communication had become virtual.

Life felt weird at the height of the Covid pandemic. Everyone wore masks. Anyone who coughed or sneezed was given looks of reprimand. Human communication had become virtual. It is no wonder if people had trouble adapting to post-pandemic interaction. It would appear natural that people wouldn't forget the old ways of meet and greet. But some people in Japan are taking help from professionals in order to relearn smiling. “With mask wearing having become the norm, people have had fewer opportunities to smile, and more and more people have developed a complex about it,” Keiko Kawano, a coach at the 'smile education' company Egaoiku told the Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese news outlet. “Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to making a good smile. I want people to spend time consciously smiling for their physical and mental wellbeing.” According to Egaoiku, number of applicants rose after media reports of Covid reclassification back in February. Just a month after that, government said masks would be an individual choice. “I didn’t have opportunities to see people during the coronavirus crisis and didn’t smile in public,” 79-year-old Akiko Takizawa told Mainichi Shumbun newspaper. “This has reminded me of how important smiling is,” she added.. The smile coaching classes are proving to be popular with women. Reports say that these classes typically begin with stretches to relieve facial tension. Then the participants raise their handheld mirrors to eye level. Then they flex parts of their face in accordance with Kawano's instructions. “A smile is only a smile if it’s conveyed,” she told her students in Yokohama, according to the Japan Times. “Even if you’re thinking about smiling or that you’re happy, if you have no expression, it won’t reach your audience.” Kawano is a familiar face on TV and social media. Till now, she has provided coaching to more than 4000 people to teach them the art of smiling. The report further said that Kawano has also helped hundreds of others become certified 'smile specialists'. The Guardian said that Kawano now oversees 20 trainers who run classes across Japan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japanese flock to relearn art of smiling as masks come off after Covid mandate

Population-wide facemask use could push COVID-19 transmission down to controllable levels for national epidemics and could prevent further waves of the pandemic disease when combined with lockdowns, according to a UK study published Wednesday.

The research, led by scientists at the Britain's Cambridge and Greenwich Universities, suggests lockdowns alone will not stop the resurgence of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but that even homemade masks can dramatically reduce transmission rates if enough people wear them in public.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-face-mask-more-than-protective-gear-287694">The face mask: More than protective gear!</a>

"Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of facemasks by the public," said Richard Stutt, who co-led the study at Cambridge.

He said the findings showed that if widespread mask use were combined with social distancing and some lockdown measures, this could be "an acceptable way of managing the pandemic and re-opening economic activity" long before the development and public availability of an effective vaccine against COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-refusal-to-wear-masks-hints-towards-racism-and-masculinity-in-america-298624">Donald Trump's refusal to wear masks hints towards racism and masculinity in America</a>

The study's findings were published in the "Proceedings of the Royal Society A" scientific journal.

The World Health Organization updated its guidance on Friday to recommend that governments ask everyone to wear fabric face masks in public areas where there is a risk to reduce the spread of the disease.

In this study, researchers linked the dynamics of spread between people with population-level models to assess the effect on the disease's reproduction rate, or R value, of different scenarios of mask adoption combined with periods of lockdown.

The R value measures the average number of people that one infected person will pass the disease on to. An R value above 1 can lead to exponential growth.

The study found that if people wear masks whenever they are in public it is twice as effective at reducing the R value than if masks are only worn after symptoms appear.

In all scenarios the study looked at, routine facemask use by 50% or more of the population reduced COVID-19 spread to an R of less than 1.0, flattening future disease waves and allowing for less stringent lockdowns.

"We have little to lose from the widespread adoption of facemasks, but the gains could be significant," said Renata Retkute, who co-led the study.

Population-wide facemask use could push COVID-19 transmission down to controllable levels for national epidemics and could prevent further waves of the pandemic disease when combined with lockdowns, according to a UK study published Wednesday.

Population-wide facemask use could push COVID-19 transmission down to controllable levels for national epidemics and could prevent further waves of the pandemic disease when combined with lockdowns, according to a UK study published Wednesday. The research, led by scientists at the Britain's Cambridge and Greenwich Universities, suggests lockdowns alone will not stop the resurgence of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but that even homemade masks can dramatically reduce transmission rates if enough people wear them in public. Also read: The face mask: More than protective gear! "Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of facemasks by the public," said Richard Stutt, who co-led the study at Cambridge. He said the findings showed that if widespread mask use were combined with social distancing and some lockdown measures, this could be "an acceptable way of managing the pandemic and re-opening economic activity" long before the development and public availability of an effective vaccine against COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. Also read: Donald Trump's refusal to wear masks hints towards racism and masculinity in America The study's findings were published in the "Proceedings of the Royal Society A" scientific journal. The World Health Organization updated its guidance on Friday to recommend that governments ask everyone to wear fabric face masks in public areas where there is a risk to reduce the spread of the disease. In this study, researchers linked the dynamics of spread between people with population-level models to assess the effect on the disease's reproduction rate, or R value, of different scenarios of mask adoption combined with periods of lockdown. The R value measures the average number of people that one infected person will pass the disease on to. An R value above 1 can lead to exponential growth. The study found that if people wear masks whenever they are in public it is twice as effective at reducing the R value than if masks are only worn after symptoms appear. In all scenarios the study looked at, routine facemask use by 50% or more of the population reduced COVID-19 spread to an R of less than 1.0, flattening future disease waves and allowing for less stringent lockdowns. "We have little to lose from the widespread adoption of facemasks, but the gains could be significant," said Renata Retkute, who co-led the study.

Wearing masks on large-scale can prevent COVID-19 second waves: Study

While, coronavirus guidelines across the world are encouraging people to wear masks experts in Japan have now said that face masks can be dangerous for children below the age of 2 as they increase the risk of choking and heat strokes in infants. 
&nbsp; 
According to Japan's pediatric association, children have narrow air passages and masks increase the burden on their hearts. 
&nbsp; 
Japanese parents have been warned against using masks for children under the age of 2.

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Researchers believe&nbsp;that all infants do not need masks because they are relatively at low risk of contracting the virus. 
&nbsp; 
There have been very few cases of serious coronavirus among children and there have been almost no outbreaks at day care facilities. 
&nbsp; 
The US&nbsp;Center for Disease Control too has advised parents against using cloth face coverings on children below&nbsp; two years old. 
&nbsp; 
The American academy of pediatrics has sent out a similar advisory.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

But the question arises that what if parents do not want to take a risk?

If masks are not the best option, how must babies be protected when at a crowded place or surrounded by potentially infected adults?

A&nbsp;hospital in Bangkok has come with the perfect solution by gearing&nbsp;newborns with tiny face guards. 
&nbsp; 
The transparent shields guard a baby's face without covering it. There is&nbsp;also enough room for ventilation. 
&nbsp; 
Similar shields were also given to babies at a Costa Rica hospital. 
&nbsp; 
However, parents must&nbsp;consult a healthcare professional before using any protective gear on infants.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

While, coronavirus guidelines across the world are encouraging people to wear masks experts in Japan have now said that face masks can be dangerous for children below the age of 2 as they increase the risk of choking and heat strokes in infants.

While, coronavirus guidelines across the world are encouraging people to wear masks experts in Japan have now said that face masks can be dangerous for children below the age of 2 as they increase the risk of choking and heat strokes in infants. According to Japan's pediatric association, children have narrow air passages and masks increase the burden on their hearts. Japanese parents have been warned against using masks for children under the age of 2. Researchers believe that all infants do not need masks because they are relatively at low risk of contracting the virus. There have been very few cases of serious coronavirus among children and there have been almost no outbreaks at day care facilities. The US Center for Disease Control too has advised parents against using cloth face coverings on children below two years old. The American academy of pediatrics has sent out a similar advisory. But the question arises that what if parents do not want to take a risk? If masks are not the best option, how must babies be protected when at a crowded place or surrounded by potentially infected adults? A hospital in Bangkok has come with the perfect solution by gearing newborns with tiny face guards. The transparent shields guard a baby's face without covering it. There is also enough room for ventilation. Similar shields were also given to babies at a Costa Rica hospital. However, parents must consult a healthcare professional before using any protective gear on infants.

Wearing masks increases risk of choking and heat strokes in infants: Experts