2020 started with a bang. The UK was finally formalizing Brexit, Meghan and Harry moved to Canada, Australia had wildfire problems and the US was bracing for another election. However, every story got buried with the rise of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
The worldwide pandemic made everyone see how good they had it — and how worse it could be. Panic buying became the new norm, with tension and fear clearly in the air. Although this pandemic will pass, the lessons it has taught is sure to remain in everyone’s minds.
Hospitals are not the safest place
If you want to avoid infections, hospitals are the last place you want to be in. Sick people can be contagious, and you can easily run into one as you enter a hospital door. Doctors, nurses and other health workers take the necessary precautions. Still, they are exposed to a significant risk of infection.
If you’re not sick, don’t to go to a hospital. Even if you’re sick (as long as it’s not serious), try to avoid the hospital. Get in touch with physicians that make house calls, instead. Try to get most of your medical examinations in smaller clinics. You can get a private ultrasound scan in the UK through a local diagnostic clinic.
Preppers Have a Point
Those crazy preppers preparing for the apocalypse don’t seem so silly now. With groceries running out of food and strangely, toilet paper, stocking up on dry food that has a five-year shelf life seems like a good idea. Prepping late brings about all sorts of problems (including this focus on toilet paper), and most grocery items won’t last a month or two. Of course, you don’t have to build a bunker, buy guns and train in wilderness survival (unless you want to), just stock up on one to two months worth of dry food. Best case situation, the food spoils in five to ten years. Worst case situation, you get to use it.
Personal Space is Back In
Reserve your hugs and kisses for family and friends. At least then, you’ll know who infected whom if an outbreak gets called. No more handshakes, cheek kisses or unintentional shoulder bumps from walking too close to each other. In the time of the pandemic, personal space bubbles should be followed.
Physical contact as greetings can be replaced with smiles, acknowledging nods, namaste greetings (hands held together in front of the chest), pledge gestures or even the sign of the Aquila (crossing your hands to form the shape of a bird on one’s chest). As long as the other party can interpret your gesture as a greeting, everything should be fine.
The modern world just got whacked by its first pandemic, and it won’t probably be the last. If COVID-19 caught you with your pants down, it’s time to think things through and make a few preparations. There’s no need to panic if you got everything you need before the UK government orders a full lockdown.