What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
While cities start to reopen, whether advisable or not, people will understandably be excited to get back to their old life. This transition, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the risks of the pandemic have significantly changed, and, in fact, it risks ushering in a second wave. People are asking questions: can you go to restaurants? Work out at the gym? Go to the movies? Get a haircut? See your friends?
Social distancing will be the norm for the foreseeable future, and it’s much more than simply wearing masks—which aren’t a guarantee. Of course, your level of caution also relies upon your health, age, pre-existing conditions, and how much you need to go out for a certain activity, but we should also be considering the risk we incur on everyone else around us.
Click through to get some answers on your post-lockdown questions.
Continue washing your hands thoroughly, use hand sanitizer on the go, don’t touch your face, cover your face when coughing or sneezing with the inside of your elbow, use a mask, and stay home if you’re feeling sick.
See also: The most ridiculed celebrity responses to coronavirus.
Picnics are a great way to safely socialize, coming second to going for walks. But bring your own blanket and utensils, so that you’re not touching the same items.
Of course a reunion feels in order, but even if everyone feels healthy it could be a huge risk. If you can't video chat, meet outside and keep the distance, as difficult as it might be.
Unfortunately, hugs are not recommended with people outside of your bubble, and no cheek kisses or handshakes either! Limit your physical contact with other people now so that later you can enjoy them safely.
Keep the windows open and the space well-ventilated, and avoid being too close.
Various guidelines have been released for companies regarding the return to work depending on the government. Generally, desks shouldn’t be close together, barriers between desks are recommended, masks should be worn, close interactions should be limited, and break times should be staggered.
It’s much safer to gather with a small group of friends or family on a patio, lawn, or some other outdoor space where there is fresh air and it's easier to keep a distance.
The six-feet (two-meter) rule still applies in stores and lines, and you should also continue wearing a mask in public.
It's certainly not the time for parties, and all gatherings are advised to limit the number to around 10 people. Really it’s about density, so that number can change depending on the space.
The safest bubble is obviously your household and those in it, but if the loneliness is getting to you, experts interviewed by The Atlantic recommend that you very slowly and selectively invite a couple people into your bubble, with each of you keeping your bubbles tight.
What's more, CNN reports that coronavirus can persist in men's semen even after they have begun to recover, raising the possibility that the virus could be sexually transmitted.
Going to a crowded church, mosque, temple, or any space—especially when it involves singing, which comes with a slightly higher risk of spreading the virus—is not recommended.
It's recommended that people write their orders down to limit face-to-face interaction with staff, that condiments are not shared between tables and are disinfected regularly, and for the staff to take extra care to wash their hands after touching dirty dishes.
Staying six feet (or two meters) apart is still recommended, but if you’re really willing to risk it, you should first have a conversation about admitting each other into one another’s closed bubbles and acknowledging the risk you both bring.
You can support local dining spots and eliminate a huge risk if you choose to order in or get takeout. Leave a generous tip if you can!
Wear a mask when you’re not eating, and only enter if the tables are sufficiently spaced out and the workers wear masks. It's better if the restaurant has outdoor seating!
While not particularly pressing, tattoo parlors are reopening and tattoo artists need income as well. If both parties are wearing masks, experts say it’s a safer activity than going to a mall.
Haircuts mean close physical contact and typically involve conversation, so you should only go if absolutely necessary and if masks and dividers are being used.
If you have an urgent dental problem then you should go, but if you can postpone your routine cleaning, it’s a safer bet for both you and your dentist, who is working on wide-open mouths.
As stores reopen, you should still wear a mask, there should only be a limited amount of people in a store at a time, and you should abide by one-way traffic in aisles. Try to avoid crowded malls if you can.
If you don’t have to take public transit, it’s recommended not to, which also leaves more space for those who have no other option. On public transit, wear a mask, distance yourself, and use hand sanitizer when you disembark.
While you should only be traveling if urgently necessary, traveling by plane and car each have their merits and risks depending on where you’re going. Cars limit exposure to so many people, but still require stops along the way for long journeys, whereas a plane ride is exposure to more people (masks are required) but could be a shorter time.
Going to a crowded theater for a few hours is not a good idea, but if the theater is selling limited tickets and spacing everyone out, it should be fine. Wear a mask! Or, a better alternative is going to a drive-in.
However, outdoor concerts with proper spacing between audience members can be an option. Even drive-in concerts might become popular!
Elevator buttons, public faucets, handrails, doorknobs, shopping carts, ATM screens, gas pumps, and your phone are all surfaces that carry germs and potentially the virus.
Given that children are quite bad at distancing and that playground structures have kids’ hands all over them, going to the playground is a risk. However, if the kids wear masks, don’t touch their face, and wash their hands afterward, it should be fine.
Un-lockdown: How to stay safe as cities reopen
From the gym to socializing to dining out, here's how to avoid the second wave
LIFESTYLE Covid-19
While cities start to reopen, whether advisable or not, people will understandably be excited to get back to their old life. This transition, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the risks of the pandemic have significantly changed, and, in fact, it risks ushering in a second wave. People are asking questions: can you go to restaurants? Work out at the gym? Go to the movies? Get a haircut? See your friends?
Social distancing will be the norm for the foreseeable future, and it’s much more than simply wearing masks—which aren’t a guarantee. Of course, your level of caution also relies upon your health, age, pre-existing conditions, and how much you need to go out for a certain activity, but we should also be considering the risk we incur on everyone else around us.
Click through to get some answers on your post-lockdown questions.