The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. It redefined all semblance of normal that we have established for a century since the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. It’s similar to COVID-19 in terms of casualties and virulence.
How the Spanish Flu spread and affected humans is different from how COVID-19 impacted us the previous year. We must consider the vast difference in our value for hygiene, public consciousness of scientific knowledge, communication technologies, living conditions, and other technological advancements. With that being said, it’s easy to say that the current pandemic was preventable due to multiple countries underestimating its threat.
However, what we can do now in this predicament is to adjust, cope, reassess, and innovate. Since the virus is infectious through respiratory droplets, physical distancing is a must, and mass gatherings are prohibited to a certain degree. When lockdowns were first imposed, businesses, the economy, education, and livelihoods were simultaneously paralyzed.
More than a year after that, we now have a “new normal” where most setups that used to be in person or public are resituated at personal residences and online. When it is indeed necessary to travel and go out, we have to follow health protocols.
Wearing masks in public
A virus that is spread easily through mere coughing, sneezing, or talking in the open air is best combatted through wearing masks. It’s a two-way form of protection since it ensures that we don’t get infected and don’t possibly put others at risk if we are carriers of the virus. The material face masks were made from is diverse, ranging from nylon, medical-grade, cotton, and woven polyester.
To reassure people of its risk and prevention effectiveness, experts conducted multiple studies on an array of face masks and how they are worn across the world. An example would be researchers from EPA conducting mask filtration effectiveness research.
There have been protests against wearing masks in other nations, some even citing serious health repercussions when masks are worn over long periods. However, these have also been disproven by experts. Such extreme cases are most likely caused by other underlying health concerns rather than be attributed to masking usage.
Public places practicing and reinforcing safety guidelines
The virus spreads faster indoors compared to outdoors. Among the requirements to safely reopen buildings, shops, stores, and restaurants is ensuring that there is proper ventilation in the area. Proper ventilation is a prevention strategy that reduces the risk of the same air hanging in a closed space. This is due to the constant circulation of clean air and expelling aerial contaminants. There is no necessity to install an entirely new ventilation system, but upgrades are a suggested option.
Some establishments also provide their workers with personal protective equipment to wear when serving clients or customers. This reduces their exposure as they interact with other people. Among personal protective equipment aside from masks are face shields,
Plenty of restaurants and businesses have also had to integrate health safety in their interior design. Among these are reducing the number of tables or seats present, making the floor plan more spacious, reducing the number of customers they can accommodate at a time, and installing furniture that establishes distance.
Some examples are using acrylic table shields, barriers by cashier counters, and automated temperature-checking and disinfectant machines by entrances. Lounge chairs are now marked or taped on one side to only accommodate a single person instead of multiple people.
The flow of people in and out is also now more regulated and systematic by implementing a singular flow. There is only one entrance, and another one is designated as an exit so that people would not intermingle as much. It also makes it easier to keep track of establishment visitors.
The transition of public services to the doorstep
Before the pandemic, we still had the freedom to buy goods outside. Now, however, many third-party service providers make essential goods accessible to people. With mobile applications, companies make ordering food, groceries, and supplies are just a click away. As of now, it is also a booming enterprise, given that people opt not to travel for their safety.
Public spaces have had to adjust and innovate as we cope with this setup. It’s a matter of blending safety, necessity, and creativity. It’s still a long way toward a complete return to pre-pandemic freedom, but we make do with the situation and make it a bit more lively and liveable.
We have witnessed how innovative we can be in the face of adversity. Nevertheless, these shifts pre-pandemic to the new normal make us more vigilant in taking public health more seriously and create a culture that accepts scientific knowledge more openly.
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