Many of us are waiting for the day when we no longer need to wear masks in public and can go to a concert or simply hug our loved ones.
Many of us are waiting for the day when we no longer need to wear masks in public and can go to a concert or simply hug our loved ones. And as more people are vaccinated against COVID-19, there is growing optimism for a happier and healthier future. But experts warn that life will not return to normal like the flip of a switch, and expect many health precautions and restrictions implemented during the pandemic to stick around for the foreseeable future. A new national survey of more than 2,000 Americans by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds most are on board with continuing many of these pandemic precautions in the name of public health, even when the pandemic is over.
“While the progress we’re making toward recovery is exciting, it is critical that we don’t ease up on the precautions that we know have worked thus far,” said Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Masks and physical distancing are still our very best weapons for limiting spread and, now that we have a vaccine, it will make those precautions even more effective and will drive new cases way down if we stay the course.”
The survey found that nearly three-quarters of Americans plan to continue to wear masks in public, four out of five will still avoid crowds and ninety percent plan to keep up frequent handwashing and sanitizer use after COVID-19. Gonsenhauser says it’s encouraging that people are willing to continue these practices and that this year’s flu season is proof of their effectiveness.
Read more at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Image: Mike Nicholson livestreams his hip-hop fitness classes and has had limited in-person attendance for months. He's looking forward to welcoming more people back to class. But to get there, everyone will have to keep following COVID-19 safety protocols. (Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)
