It is hard to believe it's four years already since the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. How time flies.Wasn't it just yesterday when we had to quit business, school, and every social activity? I almost forgot about wearing a nose mask, social distancing, sneezing into the elbow, and frequent hand washing and sanitizing. Those were really hard times.
It was one hell of a tough time for people; everyone, both young and old, male and female, rich and poor, felt the brunt of it all, and it's just great to have our normal lives back.
Since the pandemic, it seems everybody has been so much involved with life that we have forgotten the basic things we should normally do to help prevent the spread of diseases. For example, during the time of the pandemic, it was instructed that people wear masks, use hand sanitizers, and wash their hands frequently to protect themselves and reduce the risk of spreading and contacting diseases. Many, if not all, complied. Wearing masks became the norm, and if you searched someone's bag, you would likely find a hand sanitizer. I remember carrying one with me all the time and almost bathing myself in it once I came into contact with anyone. People were quick to lash out at anyone not following the instructions on how to stay safe, as nobody wanted to get the virus and die.
Even some months after, people were still adhering to those instructions. Nose masks were still part of daily outfits, and it seemed as if people were willing to go the extra mile to stay safe. A year later, life gradually returned to factory setting, and some even forgot those healthy habits practiced during the pandemic. In my area now, if someone wears a mask or coughs into their elbow, people think they are strange, more like an alien.
The reactions and comments from some individuals makes me wonder if we should wait until we get sick or face another health crisis before taking precautions? Of course, that would certainly be the most unwise thing to do. It wouldn't make sense to wait until another health crisis strikes or we get sick before taking precautions. While it's been four years, it only makes sense that people keep adopting those measures to stay safe. These days, there are numerous threats to health, and even the most random thing people see as common or nothing can actually be dangerous, such as eating with unwashed hands.
When we don't wash our hands before eating, the germs in hands can get on our food and make us sick. And touch things after eating without washing, we can spread those germs to others, making them sick too. An article by Webmb titled "What Happens When You Don't Wash Your Hands" suggests that Handwashing education in schools can lower absenteeism from gastrointestinal problems by up to 57%.
Part of the article says
"If you don't wash your hands when they're germy, you could pass those germs on to friends and family and get them sick. If you get them on an object, like a doorknob or handrail, you could infect people you don't even know. All those germs can get to you, too. Your hands can carry germs into your eyes and your mouth from places you don't even want to think about. And the illnesses the germs can cause could be serious. Washing your hands with soap (which is much more effective than sanitizer or water alone) can protect you from illnesses like diarrhea, respiratory infections, and more."
It is concerning that some people wait until another health crisis to take precautions seriously. Maintaining these habits is important for preventing the spread of diseases. People should not wait till they fall sick before taking precautions, it always better safe than sorry.
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