Teachers and students at the Chinese YMCA elementary school were also concerned about the end of face coverings during classes. “In order for the children to prepare for the change, the school organized a special class for them called ‘How to value smiling faces’. Some students are still ashamed. A lot of time has passed since they last showed their faces in front of their classmates.” explained the director.
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Source: Getty Images
Hong Kong became one of the last cities in the world to lift the veil after 945 days. On Wednesday, the first day when the order ceased to apply, only about 80 of the 700 students showed up at school without face protection. The other residents of the city are in a similar situation. “After almost three years of wearing a face mask, it has become a part of Hong Kong people’s lives. If wearing a face mask is still considered a social norm, for example when your fellow passengers are wearing it on the train, then there is a much higher chance that you will do the same.” brought up by Bryant Hui, who teaches psychology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. According to him, the fear of contracting the coronavirus is not the only reason why people do not intend to give up the veil.
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Source: SITA/AP Photo/Ng Han Guan 
People interviewed by the Financial Times said they would wear face protection, for example, because of an allergy, to avoid second-hand smoke or simply because they had masks left at home. “Wearing a veil is part of a fashion trend,” thinks Mi Lee, who works in hospitality. “It’s a habit. I just can’t adapt to not wearing it. It’s like trying to quit smoking. It’s an addiction that you can’t just get rid of. But I’m not afraid of Covid, I already caught it last year,” said salesman Ah Miu.
The fact that wearing masks was common in Hong Kong and other places in Asia before the spread of covid-19 can also contribute to the popularity of masks. In South Korea, for example, in the spring, the government called for masks to be worn to prevent respiratory diseases during the dust storm season in East Asia.
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