A survey showed that most Americans plan to continue wearing masks, avoiding crowds and washing their hands frequently even when the pandemic is over.
Americans are willing to maintain implemented behaviors due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, even once the virus is controlled.
According to a press release, a national survey conducted by more than 2,000 respondents conducted by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center found that 72 percent of Americans plan to continue wearing masks in public, 80 percent still it will avoid congestion and 90 percent say it will. continue to wash and clean your hands frequently.
“While the progress we’re making toward recovery is exciting, it’s critical that we don’t appease the precautions we know have worked so far,” said Iahn Gonsenhauser, MD, head of patient quality and safety in Ohio. State Wexner Medical Center says in a statement. “Masks and physical distancing remain our best weapons to limit the spread, and now that we have a vaccine, they will make these precautions even more effective and lead to new cases if we continue the course.”
He said the results were promising given the positive effect these health efforts have had during this year’s flu season.
“Influenza cases and hospitalizations are very low compared to recent years. Many of these are likely because precautions such as masking, physical distancing and hand hygiene are working to prevent the flu,” he says. Gonsenhauser in the statement. “I think a lot of people realize that what we’ve learned from COVID-19 can be applied more generally to keeping our population healthy.”