The effect of silent eating during school lunchtime on COVID-19 outbreaks

Ryo Takahashi, Kengo Igei, Yusuke Tsugawa and Makiko Nakamuro

Social Science & Medicine, 2024, vol. 348, issue C

Abstract: Silent eating—no talking during mealtimes—has been used as a measure to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 infection because the emission of droplets during conversations has been considered a risk factor for spreading the virus. Japan implemented silent eating during school lunchtimes in May 2020, and it remained in effect until November 2022. However, concerns have been raised regarding its potential negative effects on children's well-being and educational attainment. More importantly, no study to date has examined its effectiveness in reducing the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aims to address this important knowledge gap by examining the impact of silent eating on the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Keywords: Silent eating; Class closure; COVID-19 pandemic; Japan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:348:y:2024:i:c:s027795362400296x

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116852

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