One study found that most Americans plan to continue wearing masks, avoid crowds, and wash their hands regularly, even after the pandemic is over.
Americans are willing to continue the behavior implemented as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, even if the virus is under control.
According to a press release, a national survey of more than 2,000 respondents conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that 72 percent of Americans plan to continue wearing masks in public, 80 percent will still crowds. and 90 percent say they will continue to wash and sanitize hands regularly.
“While the progress we are making towards recovery is exciting, it is critical that we do not soften the precautions we know have worked to date,” said Iahn Gonsenhauser, MD, Chief Quality and Patient Safety Officer at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, says in the release. “Masks and physical distance are still our best weapons to limit spread and, now that we have a vaccine, those precautions will make it even more effective and will drive new cases far away if we stay on track.”
He said the results were promising given the positive effect these health efforts have had in this year’s flu season.
“Flu cases and hospital admissions are much lower than in recent years. Much of that is likely because precautions such as masking, physical distance and hand hygiene work to prevent flu,” Gonsenhauser said in the press release. “I think a lot of people are realizing that what we’ve learned from COVID-19 can be applied more broadly to keep our population healthy.”