日光浴で新型コロナ撃退、インドネシアでブーム

【ジャカルタＡＦＰ＝時事】日光をたくさん浴びて新型コロナウイルスを撃退しよう──こんな期待を抱いて日なたに繰り出す人が、インドネシアで増えている。上半身裸で地面に横たわる兵士や、自宅の庭で日焼けを試みる若者らの姿は、イスラム教徒が大多数を占め保守的な服装を好む同国では、今まであまり見られなかった光景だ。（写真はインドネシア・マルク州の州都アンボンで、対人距離を取りながら日光浴をするインドネシア海兵隊の兵士ら。インドネシア軍提供）
　アジアでは肌の色の薄さと社会的階層の高さが関連付けられてきた歴史があることから、美白意識が高い。インドネシアでも、これまで日光浴はバリを訪れる外国人観光客のすることだと考えられてきた。
　ところが、日光とそれを浴びることによって体内で生成されるビタミンＤが新型ウイルスを不活化したり、活動を抑制したりするという根拠のない情報がソーシャルメディアで拡散してから、インドネシアの人々は一斉に日光浴を始めた。
　その期待は、米政府高官が先週、太陽光で新型ウイルスの急速な不活化に成功したとする研究結果を発表したことで、さらに高まった。この研究はまだ検証されていない段階のものだが、ドナルド・トランプ米大統領が記者会見で熱心に取り上げた。
　「日焼けしたくないから、いつも日なたを避けていた。でも、今は日光浴で免疫力が高まるのを期待している」と話してくれたのは、インドネシアの文化中心地ジョクジャカルタに住む主婦（２７）だ。
　突然の日光浴ブームを受け、インドネシア政府は皮膚がんになるリスクがあることを警告。あまり日焼けしたことのない人は日焼け止めを使用するよう注意を促している。
　今や、インドネシア軍や警察でも上半身裸での日光浴が毎朝の訓練に組み込まれ、大都市では住民らが路地や広場、線路上など、あちこちで直射日光を浴びている。髪の毛をスカーフで覆いつつ袖をまくり、ズボンの裾をたくし上げた女性から、シャツを脱ぎ捨てた１０代の少年、高齢者まで、少しでも多くの日光を浴びようと線路脇に集まった人々はさまざまだ。
　「（新型ウイルスの）パンデミック（世界的な大流行）が始まってから、定期的に日光浴をしている」。首都ジャカルタ郊外タンゲランを通る線路の近くでＡＦＰの取材に応じた男性は、「日光浴の後にシャワーを浴びると体が元気になる気がする」と語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/05/01-15:56）

From shirtless soldiers to teens suntanning on their parents' driveways, Indonesians are soaking up rays like never before in the hope that plentiful sunshine will ward off coronavirus.
The rush to take up a practice usually associated with Bali-bound foreigners has been driven by unfounded claims on social media that sunlight -- and the vitamin D it supplies -- can slow or kill the virus.
That hope got a boost last week when a senior US official said new research showed sunlight quickly destroys the virus. The study has yet to be evaluated independently, but US President Donald Trump spoke about it enthusiastically during a press conference.
I always avoided the sun before because I didn't want to get tanned, said Theresia Rikke Astria, a 27-year-old housewife in Indonesia's cultural capital Yogyakarta.
But I'm hoping this will strengthen my immune system, she added.
Medics have their doubts, but say a 15-minute burst of morning sunshine can be good for you.
Exposing the body to direct sunlight is good to get vitamin D, not to directly prevent the disease, said Dr. Dirga Sakti Rambe at Jakarta?s OMNI Pulomas Hospital.
Vitamin D, which comes from fish, eggs, milk and sunlight exposure, is important in maintaining a healthy immune system, he said, but added: Sunbathing does not kill the virus that causes COVID-19.
Whatever the science, one thing is for sure: there is no shortage of sunshine in the tropical 5,000-kilometre- (3,100-mile-) long Southeast Asian archipelago.
The rush outdoors has led to an Indonesian government warning about the dangers of skin cancer, and calls for novice sun-seekers to slap on protection.
It was a rare caution in a place where sunbathing is not practised widely and beauty product commercials extol the virtues of fair skin.
Across Asia, pale skin has long been associated with a higher social class and skin-lightening products are big sellers.
Muslim majority Indonesia's relatively conservative dress codes -- especially for women -- mean skimpy swimwear isn't a feature of the new craze.
- 'Asian skin tone' -
But the pandemic has made a convert of Rio Zikrizal, even if he struggles with the idea of soaking his shirtless torso in the sun.
In normal times I'd be reluctant to sunbathe, the Jakarta resident said.
I've got an Asian skin tone which gets dark easily so I often use products to make my skin lighter.
Nabillah Ayu, who lives on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta, starts her newly adopted sunbathing routine around 10 am -- when she used to be in the office -- in the hopes of avoiding the deadly respiratory disease.
Sunlight can't directly kill coronavirus, but it can boost the immune system and stop you from getting it, the 22-year-old said.
Bare-chested suntan sessions have been incorporated into morning exercise routines for some military and police units.
And in major cities, residents are flocking from neighbourhoods crammed with narrow, dark alleyways to open areas -- including commuter train tracks -- where they can catch some unobstructed rays.
It is a motley mix of women in head-covering hijabs with rolled up sleeves and pants, shirtless male teens and wrinkly pensioners all clamouring for a bit of sunshine as the odd train zips by.
I've just started sunbathing regularly since the pandemic hit, Alfian, who goes by one name, told AFP near train tracks in Tangerang on the edge of Jakarta.
Afterwards I take a shower and my body feels fitter.
Pensioner Wadianto Wadito, who suffers from heart disease and diabetes, figures he can use all the help he can get.
I'm already taking a lot of medicines anyway, so now I'm sunbathing to get all my vitamins without taking more pills, the 65-year-old said.