A poll found that most Americans still intend to wear masks, avoiding crowding and frequent hand washing, even after the pandemic is over.
Americans are willing to maintain the behaviors implemented due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic even once the virus is brought under control.
According to a press release, a national survey of more than 2,000 respondents conducted by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center found that 72 percent of U.S. plans continue to wear masks in public, 80 percent will still avoid crowds and 90 percent say they will continue frequent hand washing and sanitation.
“While the progress we are making in terms of recovery is exciting, it is essential that we do not ease the precautions we know have worked so far,” said Iahn Gonsenhauser, MD, chief officer for patient quality and safety at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center says in a statement. “Masks and physical distance are still the best weapons to limit the spread, and now that we have a vaccine, they will make these precautions even more effective and drive new cases down if we continue the course.”
He said the results were promising given the positive effect these health efforts have had on the flu season this year.
“Influenza cases and hospitalizations have decreased compared to recent years. Many of these are likely because precautions such as masking, physical distancing and hand hygiene work to prevent the flu,” Gonsenhauser said in a statement. “I think a lot of people realize that what we’ve learned from COVID-19 can be applied more generally to keeping the population healthy.”