Survey: Many willing to continue pandemic protections

The pandemic has led to a number of a changes in people’s behavior, including maintaining distance from other people, wearing masks, and more intensive handwashing techniques. These behaviors along with a large number of the population staying home have helped flatten the curve of the pandemic somewhat.

A national survey run by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus asked respondents about whether they would continue wearing masks, avoid crowds, and keep up the rate of handwashing and sanitizing even when the pandemic was well controlled. Many said that they would with 72% indicating continued mask use; 80% stating that crowd avoidance; and 90% saying that they would continue rigorous hand washing and sanitizing.

The survey also noted the benefit that these measures have had on influenza, as the number of cases and hospitalizations for that disease are also significantly down from previous seasons.

For more on the survey, read our sister publication Medical Economics.