Viral: Virus Confrontation After Man Coughs On Metro

Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire/@__Aerials

This is the viral moment an angry confrontation erupts on the Tokyo metro over coronavirus fears after a man coughed without a face mask on.

Medical professionals have repeatedly warned that wearing a face mask is unlikely to do much to stop people catching the virus, however, it does limit the potential of people who have the virus from infecting others by trapping particles when they cough.

The people in this video recorded by an onlooker on the Yamanote Line of the metro system in the Japanese capital Tokyo seem to share that view, as they round on the seemingly selfish man as the coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, continues to spread.

AsiaWire/@__Aerials

Local media report the confrontation began when the man not wearing a face mask began coughing in the carriage. In the video, a man wearing a face mask can be seen confronting the unprotected man, shouting in his face.

Onlookers also wearing face masks appear to get involved as the clip comes to an end.

The video was shared with the caption “adults start a disturbance due to the coronavirus, triggered by a cough on the Yamanote Line” and the clip has been viewed over 2 million times online.

Netizens were quick to comment, with one user writing “Respect to the old guy — I hate it when people cough on the train.”

Another user wrote: “We all have to be careful to cover our mouths when coughing now.”

While another added: “This guy will suffer from high blood pressure before he suffers from the coronavirus.”

Japan has suffered 261 confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in six deaths.

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