Roller coaster riders in Japan are now asked to silently scream because of coronavirus

[Andy Meek]

• The coronavirus' Japan impact has been quite different than that in the US, with the country comparatively keeping the virus at bay without resorting to the widespread and painful lockdown measures seen in the US.
• Japan has also seen relatively few deaths from the coronavirus.
• However, a new development in the country reflects just how unconventional some of the response around the world has been to the virus: In Japan, riders on roller coasters are encouraged to keep their screams to themselves from now on, since loud talking is known to spread the virus.

The coronavirus pandemic, in addition to causing a global public health crisis and spawning billions of dollars in economic damage that it will take years to recover from, has sparked lots of byproducts and offshoot realities that didn't necessarily seem imminent at the start of the crisis.

For example, drive-in movie theaters -- heretofore an anachronistic, barely surviving offshoot of the traditional movie business -- are now suddenly enjoying a second life. Everyone's work life started reorienting itself around Zoom meetings, which means less need to dress up in formal attire the way you would for in-person meetings (which is why Brooks Brothers has just filed for bankruptcy). Those of you who caught one of our earlier coronavirus reports will also recall that a study has found you can spread the virus just by talking -- and talking especially loud spreads it more -- which leads us to what may be one of the unintentionally silliest byproducts of the COVID-19 crisis yet. It has to do with theme parks in Japan, and the fact that they are now strongly encouraging people who ride roller coasters to ... well, refrain from screaming. You know, because your exclamations of joy (or terror) may also be spraying coronavirus all over the place.

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Roller coaster riders in Japan are now asked to silently scream because of coronavirus originally appeared on BGR.com on Thu, 9 Jul 2020 at 02:53:33 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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