Most Americans May Keep Wearing Masks, Distancing Even After Pandemic: Survey

MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News)

Sporting masks, regular hand-washing and keeping away from large crowds might not have been part of the American lifestyle prior to the coronavirus pandemic began, but all those practices are probably to stick all over for a whilst, new study suggests.

A countrywide survey from Ohio State University’s Wexner Professional medical Heart of extra than 2,000 Us residents demonstrates that a bulk of persons do not program to return to their outdated techniques anytime shortly.

The study identified that 9 of 10 Us residents will keep on frequent hand-washing and sanitizer use following COVID-19, while 4 of 5 will continue to keep away from crowds. Virtually 3-quarters of respondents mentioned they planned to keep on putting on masks in general public.

“When the development we’re earning toward recovery is fascinating, it is important that we don’t ease up on the safeguards that we know have worked therefore far,” said survey leader Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief high-quality and individual basic safety officer at Wexner Healthcare Heart.

“Masks and bodily distancing are nevertheless our very best weapons for limiting unfold, and now that we have a vaccine it will make all those precautions even more powerful and will push new circumstances way down if we remain the course,” he reported in a university information launch.

These behaviors may perhaps aid simplicity people’s nervousness about returning to public areas and give a feeling of command, researchers explained. Some societal changes pressured by the pandemic may well also proceed, together with telehealth for health care appointments and doing work from dwelling.

Gonsenhauser pointed to this year’s flu period as evidence of the efficiency of behaviors these kinds of as hand-washing, social distancing and mask putting on.

“Flu cases and hospitalizations are way down in comparison to new many years, and a good deal of that is most likely because safeguards like masking, actual physical distancing and hand cleanliness are unquestionably working for flu,” Gonsenhauser explained. “I believe a great deal of individuals are recognizing that what we’ve discovered from COVID-19 can be utilized more typically to maintain our population balanced.”

More info

The U.S. Centers for Disease Command and Prevention offers strategies for social distancing in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resource: Ohio State College, news launch, Feb. 8, 2021

Cara Murez

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