Will everyone be a germaphobe after this?

[flashbac]

Just that really. I think we'll be scarred for life after this and keep our distance from people and things for years to come.

Yes! My hands are already chapped with all the washing. But it’s worth it
I thought of this the other day too. I’m going to be so much more careful all the time in the future

I will. I thought a former colleague was odd for never touching door handles and using his elbows to open doors. Not anymore.

No

I think more people will be sensible about hygiene, which is obviously a good thing. The fact that so many people had to dash out to buy soap is an indicator of how lax so many have been.

Yes I think hygiene will be far higher on people’s agendas after this.

I think we will all hand wash for 20 seconds for ever more. That is the main thing.

No.
I wash my hands fairly regularly already.
I would like it if other people washed their hands more though.

It might discourage people who have horrible colds coming into work and spreading their germs which would be good.

I think people have short memories, and will go back to how they have always done things. But most people are fairly clean anyway. I don't know anyone who doesn't wash their hands regularly even in normal times. I think most people are doing it obsessively at the moment because there is a very real danger of contracting an illness. Whereas in 'normal' times it is more a psychological fear of contamination - I've never actually heard of anyone becoming ill from eg pressing the button on a lift, even though we all know that realistically they must dirty

but nobody knows if they picked the flu virus up from pressing a lift or from somewhere else.

I think there will be a lot less coughing in cinemas and theatres in future.

I think the keep your distance thing won't be forgotten soon. Everyone will be like 'get the hell away from me' for ages to come. Depends how long it goes on for though.

No. Honestly, we have had a few? couple? weeks of panic buying and people are comparing it to rationing during the war. It really really isn't. Not at this stage.

Ditto with germs. Social distancing is new and most people round my way do it with an awkward apologetic smile. People do it but it isn't normalised.

If lockdown were lifted next week we'd have largely forgotten by the summer.

If lockdown were lifted next week we'd have largely forgotten by the summer

Well yeah... but it won’t be. Best guesses are at least 6 months of social distancing. So I think it will have an impact on behaviour.

I wish it would be the case, but it won't be.

I'm not particularly tactile anyway but I think at the end of all this (because I think we're in it for much longer than 3 weeks) the way we greet each other - the traditional handshake in business or the cheek kissing thing socially - might change.

Yes I know I just meant I think people will soon revert to normal.

When my twins were born they were in NICU for 2 w then a further 7w at home during which I couldn't leave the house at all, could only leave the room they were in for short periods, had to strictly vet visitors and wash hands like mad. Plus express every 90mins!

It seemed apocalyptic at the time and I was so paranoid about hand hygiene, raring to get outside.....

Just over 18 mos later and I barely think about that time. Really hasn't scarred me.

I just think people slide back to old habits quickly is all.

I was a germaphobe before this so its abit normal (?) for me, practicing good hygiene and such. One thing I'm crossing off my list, that I didn't particularly like anyway, is hugging. I'm not hugging anyone again.

Hopefully.

@isabellerossignol my husband tells me that on the whole men are rank as observed in communal bathrooms where relatively few wash hands, and many pee in urinals whilst using their phones. Rank!

Not me, at least if I continues to have no underlying health issues. I know people who are more “germaphobic” than me, and they don’t get ill any less than me.

Don’t you need some exposure to pathogens to maintain a healthy immune system?

(Just to clarify, I do keep myself clean.)

I HOPE so, as an emetophobe, because it means less sickness bugs!