re: What's with Asian People Wearing masks in US?

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was in a meeting with some vendors and 2 Asian people had medical masks on. I asked 1 if he was doctor getting ready to perform an operation. What's the deal? The Coronavirus isn't here so why the masks?

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Culturally, Asians are very respectful of others. If they have a sniffle, or sneezed, or coughed in the last day or two, they will put on the mask - not for their protection. But, for yours.

I’ve had a business associate from Taiwan visit me several times. He always has allergy issues from the cedar trees here in Austin. He knows it is just allergies. He knows he is not contagious. But when he sneezes, he will immediately put the mask on for a couple of days.

I asked him about it and he said, “I know I’m not sick and contagious. But putting on the mask after a sneeze or cough is ingrained in our common hygiene practices. It is the same to us as cleaning up after going to the bathroom.”

So when you see Asians in the US wearing the mask, it *may* be because of them afraid of getting sick. But most likely, they are being respectful of you.